As investigators continue uncovering what happened inside the Ohio home where 16 children were rescued from alleged years of extreme neglect, a Dollar General employee has come forward with a disturbing account of the family’s visits to her store.

According to the employee, Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders frequently arrived shortly before closing time, sometimes accompanied by several of the children. She recalled that the children appeared unusually thin, rarely spoke, and stayed close to the adults throughout the visit. One child, she said, never seemed to leave the adults’ side, while others kept their heads down and avoided eye contact.

The employee said those encounters seemed unusual at the time, but it wasn’t until authorities rescued the children that the memories took on a far more troubling meaning. She has since said she wishes she had realized sooner that something was seriously wrong.

The case shocked the United States after authorities discovered 16 children, ranging from toddlers to 18 years old, allegedly living in horrific conditions inside a rural Ohio home. Investigators say many had been confined to a small room for years, with several requiring immediate medical treatment after being rescued. Four adults—parents Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders, along with grandparents Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders—have been charged with multiple counts of child endangerment and have pleaded not guilty.

As investigators continue examining evidence and interviewing witnesses, former acquaintances and community members are coming forward with their own recollections, hoping they may help explain how the children’s alleged isolation remained hidden for so long.

Sources: ᴀssociated Press