Harrowing details have emerged about the disturbing way authorities uncovered 16 children living in squalid conditions in a disheveled property.

The house of horrors was characterized by the Ohio attorney general as “indescribable” as it’s revealed authorities executed a warrant at the property on unrelated indecent exposure charges against Gary Siders II, 36.

An aerial view of the house of horrors in Hamden, Ohio, where 16 children were found living in squalid condition. Authorities arrested four members of the Siders family, including Elizabeth Siders, the mother of all 16 children. Investigators only learned about the horrific conditions in the home after serving an arrest warrant for Gary Siders II, who was wanted on unrelated indecent exposure charges. Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the living conditions in the home as ‘pure evil’.

An arrest warrant had been issued for Gary II on four counts of indecent exposure, according to court documents. Gary II allegedly exposed himself to others not in his household outside the family’s home in Hamden, Ohio, on three separate occasions, including May 23, May 29, and May 31.

But when Vinton County Sheriff’s deputies visited the home, about 80 miles southeast of Columbus, on June 30 they uncovered a disturbing scene. Inside, authorities found 16 children, most of whom were barely able to speak, with the eldest, an 18-year-old female, described as developmentally disabled and unable to write her name.

“We didn’t know there were going to be 16 kids there,” Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain said at a news conference on July 1. “Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children. It was just a disgusting scene.”

Authorities arrested four relatives, including Gary II, his wife Elizabeth Siders, 33, Gary Siders Sr., 71, and Christina Siders, 66. Andy Wilson, Ohio’s attorney general, described the scene as “pure evil.” “It really looked third world. It’s the type of thing that we’re not used to seeing here in America,” he said. “[It’s] almost indescribable.”

The children were allegedly kept isolated in a 12-foot by 12-foot room with a high presence of human waste and excrement, authorities said. Investigators believe the children were kept in the cramped space for “most of the last four years.” The conditions in the house were so decrepit that the children were “literally about to fall through the floor,” Wilson said. “One of the worst environments that I’ve seen in my career,” Wilson added.

Gary Siders Sr. was also arrested and charged with 16 counts of felony child endangerment. Christina Siders and her husband Gary Siders Sr. are the grandparents of the 16 children. Items including a high chair, tires, food, and insect killer were visible at the dilapidated property. A pile in the yard was filled with a plastic play table, a beach pail, and two infant carriers.

Wilson said no one outside of the four relatives knew about the children, who weren’t enrolled in school. “They looked like almost feral animals. It was terrible,” he added.

Elizabeth’s attorney Thomas Stolly identified his client as the mother of the 16 children. Stolly told the Associated Press that Elizabeth married Gary II when she was 15, and all of the children were theirs. Gary II had only finished ninth grade when he married Elizabeth in 2008, according to records. Because Elizabeth was underage, both her parents, Brian Russell and Lori Ann Russell, would have had to sign the marriage certificate along with the elder Siders.

The couple’s 18-year-old daughter was born two months after their marriage, according to NBC affiliate WCMH-TV. Investigators said the Siders family “bounced around” a lot and only recently moved to Hamden. Ronnie Fletcher, who is married to one of Siders Sr. and Christina’s four daughters, said his family was also unaware of the horrific conditions at the Hamden home. Fletcher said he was shocked by the allegations and only learned about his in-laws’ arrests through news reports.

A pile of debris sits outside the Siders’ home in Hamden. Items are seen beyond the police tape in the home. “Horrified. Worried about the kids,” Fletcher told CBS affiliate WOWK-TV. “It’s hard to explain the action when you’re distant family. What can I do to help? That was the original reaction to it.” Fletcher described his and his wife’s relationship with the Siders as “distant family” because the relatives are not close and don’t see each other often. He described Siders Sr.

and Christina’s four daughters as being “quite a bit older” than Gary II, adding that he can’t recall if the siblings ever had a relationship.

Tessi Siders previously told The U.S. Sun that she and her late husband last saw the Siders eight years ago. “We didn’t really keep up with them. My husband went through cancer, so that was our focus,” she said. Tessi, whose late husband is related to the Siders, recalled the praise other relatives had for Siders Sr. and Christina, remembering them as “wonderful parents.” “As far as I know, the family talks about Lynn and Gary, like everybody says they were wonderful parents when everybody else was little,” Tessi told The U.S.

Sun, saying the relatives referred to Christina as “Lynn.”

So when the news broke of the Siders family’s arrest, Tessi was shocked but even more horrified by the allegations. “It’s crazy. It’s unbelievable,” she said.

Siders Sr., Christina, Gary II, and Elizabeth have all been charged with 16 counts of felony second-degree child endangerment. They have all pleaded not guilty and are being held on $300,000 bond each. Gary II is expected to appear in court on Thursday for a pre-trial hearing regarding the unrelated indecent exposure charges.