The latest court filings make Gary Siders Jr. the second defendant seeking a mєntal competency evaluation, while another gag order is granted, plus booking footage shows the family entering the jail following their arrests

From left: Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina “Lynn” Siders and Elizabeth Siders

Another member of the Siders family has asked a judge to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial, making Gary Siders Jr. the second of the four defendants in Ohio’s “House of Horrors” child endangerment case to request a competency evaluation.

Booking Photos (L to R): Gary Siders Jr., Christina Siders, Gary Siders, Elizabeth Siders

Court records filed in Vinton County Common Pleas Court show Gary Siders Jr. has moved for a mєntal competency evaluation, with his attorney also asking the court for permission to file the competency motion and related psychiatric records under seal because they contain sensitive mєntal health information. The defense argues the filings concern Siders Jr.’s present mєntal condition, request for a psychiatric examination and other competency-related materials, and says publicly disclosing them would invade his privacy.

The motion does make clear the defense is not looking to seal the entire case, only the competency-related documents.

Ohio House of Horrors🚨 Gary Siders JR has now ALSO moved for a mєntal competency evaluation (his father was granted one weeks ago), with his attorney also asking the court for permission to file the competency motion and related psychiatric records under seal….catching up on new fillings, more soon…

— Lauren Conlin (@conlin_lauren) July 28, 2026

The filing comes weeks after Gary Siders Sr. was granted a competency evaluation in the same case, igniting some questions about the shocking criminal case involving the family accused of housing 16 children in what investigators described as deplorable conditions inside a Hamden rental home. As Los Angeles Magazine previously reported, prosecutors have charged Gary Siders Jr., Elizabeth Siders, Gary Siders Sr. and Christina “Lynn” Siders with multiple felony counts of child endangerment after authorities alleged the children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years old, were found living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. Gary Siders Sr. is also exploring a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity and is currently hospitalized over being incarcerated for undisclosed medical reasons.

Additionally, newly released footage from the Southeast Regional Jail in Ohio shows all four defendants being booked into custody. The video shows the group cooperating with deputies without incident. Gary Siders Sr. is first seen arriving in the sheriff’s van before appearing to struggle physically as he exits from the back. Deputies place him directly into a wheelchair. He appears noticeably thinner than his son and at times looks confused. Gary Siders Jr. is then carefully escorted from the van while shackled at the ankles and handcuffed before deputies search him while he is against the wall. At one point, Gary Siders Sr. appears to put his head in his hands, seemingly in distress while in the wheelchair.

Four Siders family members were booked into Southeast Regional Jail on June 30th on child endangering charges, with video footage released as investigations into alleged neglect and related family marriages unfold. Law&Crime’s Angenette Levy @angenette5 goes through the video. https://t.co/CDJyWtYpWX

— Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) July 22, 2026

The footage then shows Elizabeth Siders and Christina “Lynn” Siders exiting through the van’s side door and walking around to the back. Christina does not appear to be wearing leg shackles, while Elizabeth does not appear to be handcuffed or shackled and is seen quietly holding paperwork as she walks into the facility. It’s unclear what the paperwork she was holding was, and why she wasn’t cuffed like the others.

In another portion of the video, Elizabeth is seen sitting alone in the jail’s processing area, where her hair appears wet, as though she had recently showered. The remaining three defendants are then brought into the same area for processing and appear to answer routine booking questions. At one point, Gary Siders Jr. appears to wave toward someone off camera, after showing off his tattoos to deputies during processing. He also previously admitted to being under the influence at the time of arrest, per intake records.

There are so many questions here.

The latest filings also reveal that Christina “Lynn” Siders has now been placed under the same court-ordered gag order previously imposed in the Gary Siders Jr. case. The order stops the defendant, attorneys, prosecutors, investigators, experts and other parties involved in the case from making out-of-court statements about the evidence, witnesses or case information that could affect a future jury. The court made clear the restriction does not prohibit discussion of publicly available information or routine procedural matters and remains in effect unless modified by the judge.

Notably, no gag order currently appears on the public dockets for either Gary Siders Sr. or Elizabeth Siders, although Christina Siders’ order seemingly echoes the one previously entered in Gary Siders Jr.’s case.

Elizabeth Siders

Gary Siders Jr.’s motion to seal also does not disclose the basis for his competency concerns, and the competency motion itself has not been made public. His attorney asks the court to restrict public access to the evaluation request and any accompanying psychiatric information, claiming there is no less restrictive way to protect the confidentiality of competency proceedings.

A judge has not yet ruled.