An Ohio couple already facing multiple child endangerment charges for allegedly keeping 16 children in filth-ridden squalor has now been hit with additional child Sєx abuse indictments involving a young relative, prosecutors revealed.

Gary Siders Jr., 37, and Elizabeth Siders, 33, received the new charges from a Vinton County jury on Friday. The indictments stem from a separate investigation that began before authorities ever set foot inside their Hamden home.

Prosecutors said law enforcement sought DNA evidence from Gary Siders Jr. in connection with the alleged Sєx abuse case. When officers arrived to serve those search warrants on June 30, they uncovered the shocking living conditions inside the Ohmer Street residence. Sixteen children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years, were found living in a cramped space roughly 12 feet by 12 feet under conditions officials later described as inhumane.

“Upon serving search warrants for the child Sєx abuse case, the existing condition of the 16 children at the Ohmer Street house became known,” county prosecutors told reporters. They emphasized that the Sєx abuse allegations involve interfamily relations and do not pose a risk to the general public.

According to reports, the alleged victim is a young relative who is not a member of the Siders’ immediate family. Prosecutors say the abuse occurred between January and September 2022 and involved a minor more than 10 years younger than the couple.

Following the raid, Gary Jr. and Elizabeth were each indicted on 19 counts of child endangerment, including second-degree felonies that allege the children suffered serious physical harm. Gary Jr.’s parents, Christina Siders, 68, and Gary Siders Sr., 73, also face child endangerment charges — 19 counts for Christina and 16 for Gary Sr. — related to the conditions inside the home.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson previously described the scene discovered by deputies as “pure evil.” The Vinton County Sheriff’s Office and state Bureau of Criminal Investigation continue to work the cases alongside local prosecutors.

Elizabeth Siders’ attorney has raised concerns about her mental health and possible competency issues, stating in a court filing that these matters may affect her ability to ᴀssist in her own defense.

Authorities stress that the original search for evidence in the Sєx abuse investigation is what first brought the children’s living situation to light. The cases remain active as the legal process moves forward.

The dual sets of allegations have left the community reeling and focused intense scrutiny on the welfare of the children removed from the home. Prosecutors have pledged continued support for the ongoing investigations and court proceedings.