16 children rescued from Ohio home were 'almost feral,' authorities say

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JULIE CARR SMYTH and JOHN SEEWER
Updated 5:28 PM CDT, July 1, 2026
Leer en español

HAMDEN, Ohio (AP) — Sixteen children from the same family who were rescued from a dilapidated home in rural Ohio were living in wretched conditions with human waste all around, confined to just one room over much of the past four years, authorities said Wednesday.

Some of the children discovered Tuesday were unable to speak and one — an 18-year-old who was developmentally disabled — could not even write her name, investigators said.

“Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children,” said Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain. “Just a disgusting scene.”

The children’s parents and two grandparents were charged with felony child endangerment, a prosecutor said.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/children-abuse-home-deplorable-ohio-099cda8f0014adde4b87a7e86aeefe5f

[Buddyzbuddy]

1. Does nybdy know if these children were all biologically connected to the parents?

I ask because if they weren't or even if just one wasn't then at the very least, social services might have some direct responsibility.

[AZJonnie]

2. Why do I have a feeling that some of the 'siblings' will turn out to be 'mother and child'?

These poor children

Please tell me no agency allowed any of these children to be adopted by these monsters?

I feel like the question here shouldn't be "are they religious whackadoodles?", but rather "which brand of them are they?"

[Fla Dem]

3. Inhumane and insane. The poor childeren, will they ever be able to live a normal life?

[Boomerproud]

4. I saw pictures of the property and the parents and grandparents.

It was a filthy mess. Why didn't the sheriff or neighbors intervene before this?