Man whose 16 grandchildren found living in filthy conditions is found incompetent to stand trial

McArthur, Ohio saw a man whose 16 grandchildren rescued from a rural home in squalid conditions declared mentally incompetent to stand trial on Wednesday. Gary Siders Sr., 73, faced 16 counts of child endangerment, as his grandchildren were found living in deplorable conditions at the home in Hamden, about 80 miles from Columbus.

Judge Vinton County accepted the evaluation report, and Siders' attorney, Dorian Baum, stated that Siders' mental health has been deteriorating for years and is no longer restorable. The family pleaded not guilty to the charges. The children, aged from 18 months to 18 years, had been confined to a small room, had not attended school, and had moved frequently over the past two decades.

At the time of rescue, the children were described as "feral" and unable to speak. The eldest, born in May 2008, was the daughter of Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth, who married in West Virginia with parental consent.