An attorney for the mother of 16 children authorities found June 30 a small Vinton County home declined to address online speculation that his client is pregnant.
Elizabeth Siders, 34, appeared in court for a Sept. 19 arraignment holding her belly, prompting a reporter to ask attorney Thomas Stolly whether she was pregnant.
"I can't address that at this time," Stolly said.
Siders pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of child endangerment and two counts each of sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a child.
Part of the reason Stolly sought a competency evaluation for Siders was that she has "essentially been pregnant for the better part of two decades," he said. Siders married her husband, Gary Siders Jr., now 36, when she was 15, and has birthed
18 children since then. Two of them, a pair of conjoined twins, died shortly after birth.
Siders has not been receiving proper medical care despite the numerous births, Stolly said.
"We have an individual in Elizabeth who was married at age 15, who has essentially been pregnant for the better part of two decades, who has never fully gone through any postpartum period," Stolly said.
Siders does not see herself as a victim, Stolly said. But he said there are "layers to peel back." She has had little contact with those outside the Siders household, Stolly said, describing her as being "contained" to the home.
"What affect has it had on her, being married at such a young age, being confined to the environment of the Siders' household?" Stolly said.
A competency evaluation will determine whether she is competent to assist in her own defense and whether she might qualify for a not guilty by reason of insanity plea. Attorneys have also sought competency evaluations for Gary Siders Jr. and his mother, Christina Siders.
At a Sept. 9 hearing, Vinton County Common Pleas Judge Laina Fetherolf Rogers accepted an evaluation that found Gary Siders Sr. was not competent to assist his lawyers in his case and cannot be restored to competency.
Stolly stressed that Elizabeth Siders is innocent until proven guilty. He said mental health treatment at the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail is limited, and a competency evaluation could also open up more avenues for treatment.
"I am very interested in her recieving additional mental health care, and I am very open to see what their opinions are on this case," Stolly said.
Public safety and breaking news reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Elizabeth Siders' attorney declines to address pregnancy speculation
