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Ohio ‘house of horrors’ mom whose 16 kids were found locked away in squalor is pregnant again
Elizabeth Siders, 34, who is charged in a case involving 16 children found confined in squalid conditions, is pregnant again, her lawyer confirmed in court. A judge also ruled her competent to stand trial, meaning proceedings can continue despite her lawyer’s concerns about her mental health.
Siders has pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of child endangerment, two counts of sexual battery and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Her lawyer has asked for an evaluation on whether she was legally insane at the time of the alleged offences; her husband is also being assessed for competency. Authorities say the children, aged 1 to 18, were kept mostly in a 12-by-12-foot room for at least four years; Siders’ mother-in-law was ruled incompetent, while a case against her father-in-law was dismissed without prejudice.
In short
- Elizabeth Siders is pregnant, her lawyer told a court.
- A judge ruled she is competent to stand trial.
- Authorities say 16 children were confined in squalid conditions.
Explained simply
The case centres on allegations that children in the Siders family were kept in a small room in severely poor conditions in Ohio. Authorities say the children were aged from one to 18 and had been confined there for at least four years.
Elizabeth Siders faces charges including child endangerment and sexual offences, and has pleaded not guilty. Her husband is also being assessed to determine whether he is competent to stand trial; a judge has ruled that Siders is competent, so her case can proceed.
The proceedings will consider the charges and any legal questions about the defendants’ mental state. The case concerns the state’s responsibility to protect children and how courts assess whether a defendant can take part in a trial.