'House of horrors' mom-of-16 confirmed pregnant again in jail as she awaits chargesDaniel Windham Tue, November 10, 2026 at 12:50 PM UTC
Elizabeth Siders appeared in court (Image: WSYX ABC 6)
An Ohio mother at the center of a disturbing 'house of horrors' case has disclosed new information as she confronts multiple serious criminal charges.
Elizabeth Siders, 34, appeared in court on Monday for a competency hearing, where new details about her family came to light.
Her attorney, Thomas Stolly, confirmed that Siders is pregnant, meaning she could soon give birth to her 17th child, WOUB reported. No due date or further details about the pregnancy were provided.
Siders had previously denied being pregnant when she was booked into Vinton County Jail following her arrest in June.
The revelation comes as she faces 19 counts of child endangerment, two counts of sexual battery and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
From top left: Gary Siders Sr., Christine Siders, Elizabeth Siders and Gary Siders Jr. (Image: Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail)
At Monday's hearing, a judge ruled that Siders was competent to stand trial. The decision followed an initial evaluation that identified depression and anxiety, despite there being no documented history of mental illness.
However, Stolly has separately asked the court to arrange a further evaluation to determine whether his client could be found not guilty by reason of insanity.
In his motion, he requested an assessment "to determine if she is not guilty by reason of insanity, because she was suffering from a condition which would produce legal insanity at the time of the alleged offenses."
The attorney said he had spent considerable time with Siders, allowing him to observe her behavior and assess her understanding of the legal proceedings.
He claimed she "may be suffering from significant mental health issues," warning that her "competency may be an issue and a clear impediment to [her] ability to assist in her own defense."
A judge ruled that Siders was competent to stand trial (Image: undefined)
Her husband, Gary Siders Jr, faces the same charges and is currently undergoing his own competency evaluation. A hearing date has yet to be scheduled.
The court also heard updates on cases involving other family members. Christina Siders, Elizabeth's 67-year-old mother-in-law, was ruled unfit to stand trial following a psychological evaluation.
Her assessment reportedly identified possible signs of dementia, prompting her attorney to seek funding for a further examination by a specialist. She is expected to undergo treatment at an inpatient facility in an effort to restore her competency.
Meanwhile, charges against her husband, Gary Siders Sr, were dismissed last month after he was also deemed incompetent. The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could bring the charges again in the future.
The family came under investigation in June after authorities discovered 16 children living in appalling conditions at the property in Hamden, Ohio.
Investigators alleged the children had been confined to a cramped 12-by-12 room, with most allegedly spending at least four years largely restricted to the space.
Authorities described the conditions as "deplorable," with the house reportedly reeking of cat urine. The children were also described as "almost feral."
All 16 children, believed to be the children of Elizabeth and Gary Jr., were subsequently taken into protective custody and medically assessed.
Christina Siders (Image: Southeast Ohio Jail)
Christina has also been seeking her release from jail, with her public defender previously arguing that her $300,000 bond should be reduced.
Her attorney argued there was no evidence she had "threatened anyone" and maintained she was not a flight risk, pointing out that she had attended every court hearing and had no previous criminal record.
Prosecutors, however, warned she could pose a "potential risk to the victims in this case" if released.
Source: Crime
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