DISTURBING: Authorities say they discovered 16 children living in what officials have described as horrific conditions inside a home.

Larry Brown, who lives nearby, said the case has shaken the close-knit community.

“It’s stupid that this happened this close to Wellston and Vinton County,” he said. “You just don’t know what’s going on in this world anymore.”

Authorities say 16 children were removed from the home after investigators uncovered what they have described as dangerous living conditions.

Neighbors said they never realized so many children were living there.

“I come up and down here all the time and I’ve never seen a kid out here,” Brown said.

Some residents also expressed concern after hearing reports that numerous animals were inside the home.

“Then I’ve heard there were a lot of animals in the home as well,” Sabrina Hill said. “So I can just imagine what the kids lived in and went through.”

Throughout the day, neighbors stopped by the home on Ohmer Street, many trying to understand how such a dangerous situation could have unfolded.

Hill questioned whether anyone knew children were living at the residence.

“Did they know the kids were there?” she asked. “I mean, that’s just where it kind of bothers me. If they knew the kids were there, they should have been removed, I think.”

Despite the tragedy, residents were quick to say they don’t believe the case reflects the character of their community.

“But it’s not Vinton County, per se,” Hill said. “It’s just where they chose to bring their chaos because I was told that they weren’t from here.”

Harmon, who grew up in Columbus but now lives in the area, said the case is especially difficult to comprehend because of Hamden’s size.

“I mean, I was born and raised in Columbus, and this here down here is very sad and shocking because you wouldn’t expect to hear it in a village of 200,” he said.

Four adults present in the home were arrested: Gary Siders, Sr., Gary Siders, Jr., Elizabeth Siders, and Christina Siders. They face 17 criminal charges.

According to the attorney general, it is not a human trafficking situation.

Some of the 16 children were being treated at hospitals across the state. Two others were flown to nearby trauma centers.

The kids range in age from 1 1/2 to 18 years of age.

Tuesday evening, Gov. Mike DeWine issued the following statement via email:

“Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson has kept me informed about the tragic situation in Vinton County. I have talked to Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain to offer any help that we might be able to provide. The Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, Kara Wente, has been working today to ᴀssist Vinton County Children’s Services, and will continue to help in the days ahead.

“It is heartbreaking to learn the conditions that these children were living in, and to learn of their medical conditions. Attorney General Wilson is an experienced prosecutor and he has told me he has never seen anything like what he saw today. Fran and I pray for these children, and thank the children’s services workers, law enforcement officers, and medical personnel who are helping them.”

Authorities said additional details will be released during a news conference Wednesday at noon that you can watch live on this page at that time.