Four arrested, 16 children removed from southeast Ohio home

UPDATE 6/30/26 @ 6:30 p.m.

VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) – Four people are in custody Tuesday after a search found 16 children inside a home in the Hamden area of Vinton County, officials said during a news conference.

“This is pure evil what we saw down here today,” said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, who described it as one of the worst scenes he has ever seen.

It happened in the 100 block of Ohmer Street.

Two children had to be life-flighted to trauma centers, and the victims are being treated at hospitals throughout Ohio.

Their ages range from one and a half to 18 years old.

“Lives were in danger,” officials said during the news conference, saying it has been a long-term investigation.

They said there is a secondary investigation underway at the property.

The suspects are set to be arraigned at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Vinton County Common Pleas Court.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, the Vinton County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are among the investigators.

We have a crew at the scene working to get more details. Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.

ORIGINAL STORY

VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) – A news conference is scheduled Tuesday evening about a search warrant that was executed at a home in the Hamden area of Vinton County.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson’s office made that announcement, saying the news conference is scheduled at 6 p.m. in McArthur, Ohio.

Along with Wilson, Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain, Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer and members of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are set to attend the news conference.

The search warrant was executed at a home along Ohmer Street, with a heavy law enforcement presence reported throughout the day.

Additional details are unavailable now, but we have a crew headed to the scene.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.