One of the four defendants charged in Ohio's shocking Child neglect case involving 16 children found living in squalid conditions has been released on a modified bond because of a serious medical condition, according to the county prosecutor.
Gary Siders Sr., 73, had been held on a $300,000 cash bond after being charged alongside his wife, Christina Siders, his son, Gary Siders Jr., and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Siders, per the New York Post.
The four defendants collectively face 68 felony child endangerment charges and have all pleaded not guilty.
Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer said Siders Sr. was hospitalized after falling while being transported from jail to a preliminary court hearing earlier this week.
Medical evaluations determined he has a serious condition requiring specialized treatment at a hospital outside the area. Archer declined to identify the illness or the facility where Siders Sr. is receiving care.
Archer said the decision to modify the defendant's bond was based largely on the financial impact prolonged hospitalization would have had on the rural county.
"So the county was going to be on the hook for his medical care," Archer said, adding that the projected costs "could potentially bankrupt Vinton County."
Instead of remaining in county custody, Siders Sr. was granted a $300,000 recognizance bond.
If he is discharged from the hospital, prosecutors said he will be monitored with a state-funded GPS tracking device rather than being returned to jail.
"Let me stress — the community is not at risk because of his bond," Archer said.
Defense attorney Dorian Baum has also filed motions requesting that Siders Sr. undergo competency and mental health evaluations.
According to court filings, Baum argued her client struggled to understand court proceedings, could not identify the roles of people in the courtroom, and had difficulty maintaining a consistent train of thought. She also requested an evaluation to determine whether he was legally insane at the time of the alleged offenses.
Authorities launched the investigation after serving an unrelated warrant at the family's Hamden home, where investigators said they discovered 16 children living inside a cramped room covered in human waste.
Officials said the children were transported to hospitals across Ohio, with several reported in serious condition.
Investigators have said the children had never been enrolled in school, some could not speak, and the oldest child, 18, has developmental disabilities and is unable to write her name.
Archer said investigators have not yet interviewed the children but confirmed they remain safe and are receiving care. He said the case is expected to be presented to a grand jury within the coming weeks, though no date has been announced.