Vinton County in Ohio is struggling to provide care for 16 siblings rescued from a house of horrors and prosecute their parents and two grandparents. The state has labeled the situation an ‘unprecedented child welfare crisis’ as the county’s resources grow increasingly strained. The local prosecutor, William Archer Jr., has sought help from other prosecutors on the criminal case and is counting on approval of $1 million from the state to assist with care for the children.
The county’s resources are being severely tested, with the cost of medical care required for one of the defendants alone potentially bankrupting the county. As a result, the court adjusted the grandfather’s bond, releasing him from jail on his own recognizance for care at a hospital, rather than having the county pay for it. The children, who range in age from 18 months to 18 years, have varying medical conditions, with some described as ‘feral’ and unable to speak.
The case has also put a strain on the county’s budget, with the state Department of Children and Youth estimating that placement costs for the siblings will run between $150 and $250 per child per day. This adds up to roughly $850,000 a year, or more than three times the amount generated by Vinton County’s levy that’s split between children’s and senior services.
To help alleviate the burden, the judge has agreed to bring on three special prosecutors to share the load of the case without compensation. The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation has also been requested to assist. The county is expecting $1 million in additional state cash to help it cope with the ‘emergent and developing child protection crisis.’
The situation is not unique to Vinton County, with other small counties in Ohio facing similar challenges. Mike Davis, prosecutor for Pike County, another financially-strapped southern Ohio county, said that small counties often struggle to balance the cost of providing medical care for defendants with the risk of releasing them from jail. The case has highlighted the need for additional support for small counties dealing with complex and costly cases.
The 16 siblings were removed from their home after authorities discovered they had been kept in a 12-foot-by-12-foot room for several years. Their parents, Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders, and grandparents, Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders, have been charged with felony child endangerment and have pleaded not guilty.
