Mum of 16 ‘mute’ children ‘gave start to conjoined twins’ and says they’re ‘present from God’

Records show Elizabeth Siders had conjoined twin daughters, Bailey Lee Siders and Faith Lee Siders, who were both born and died on November 20, 2022. She said her kids were a ‘gift from God’

The mum at the centre of Ohio’s alleged house of horrors has described her 16 children as a “gift from God” as her lawyer insists they had social media accounts despite earlier reports claiming some of the youngsters were mute and unable to write their own names.

Elizabeth Siders, 33, remains behind bars on multiple felony child endangerment charges after authorities discovered 16 children living in what officials described as “deplorable” conditions while serving an arrest warrant for her husband, Gary Siders Jr., at the family’s Vinton County home.

Local media also reports that as well as well as the surviving children, records show Elizabeth had conjoined twin daughters, Bailey Lee Siders and Faith Lee Siders, who were both born and died on November 20, 2022, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Bailey Lee and Faith Lee were delivered prematurely at 24 weeks and diagnosed as thoracopagus conjoined twins, a condition where twins are joined at the chest. Their deaths were ruled natural causes.

As the criminal case continues, Siders is said to be desperate to reunite with her children, who were removed from the property following the June raid.

Her attorney, J. Thomas Stoley, said his client’s overwhelming concern is the welfare of her children and that she hopes to be released so she can be with them again while contesting the charges.

Speaking to WBNS after visiting Siders in jail, Stoley said the 33-year-old spent much of their meeting in tears while talking about her children.

He said she even asked whether care packages she had received while in custody could instead be shared with her sons and daughters.

Stoley also revealed details of conversations with his client, saying she told him all 16 children – whose ages range from 18 months to 18 years – were born in hospitals and that she and her husband had always wanted a large family.

According to the lawyer, Siders described her children as a “gift from God”. He also challenged some of the descriptions used by investigators following the raid.

While Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson previously branded the conditions inside the home “pure evil” and investigators referred to the children as “feral”, Stoley disputed those claims.

He said he believes the children were able to communicate, had social media accounts and were not physically restrained inside the home.

The defence’s claims come after investigators previously alleged some of the children were largely non-verbal and unable to write their own names.

Those differing accounts form part of the wider dispute surrounding the case, and the defence’s statements have not changed the criminal allegations facing the family.

Elizabeth remains in custody alongside her husband, Gary Siders Jr., and her mother-in-law, Christina Siders, who also face multiple felony child endangerment charges.

Her father-in-law, Gary Siders Sr., was released on his own recognisance after prosecutors said his serious medical conditions could leave the county facing substantial hospital costs if he remained jailed.

Prosecutors allege several of the children showed signs of severe neglect, while investigators continue building their case.

The investigation has generated nationwide attention in recent weeks, including reports surrounding the deaths of conjoined twin daughters born to the family, along with further allegations involving members of the Siders family.

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