Collins appointed as special prosecutor for Vinton County child endangering case

Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins this week was named as a special prosecutor in a high-profile Vinton County child endangering case. 

As reported by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, search warrants were executed June 30 at a Hamden residence, where 16 children were located. Four individuals — Gary Siders Jr., Elizabeth Siders, Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders — were arrested, and each suspect was charged with 16 counts of endangering children, according to the Ohio AG’s office. The case has received national attention. 

Court records show that Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer Jr. filed an application to appoint Collins as a special prosecutor Tuesday. In an entry filed Monday morning, Vinton County Common Pleas Court Judge Laina Fetherolf Rogers ordered the appointment of Collins “as Special Prosecuting Attorney in and for Vinton County, Ohio, to represent the State of Ohio and assist in this investigation to serve without compensation.”

Collins was originally appointed prosecutor by the Highland County Republican Party Central Committee in 2011 after Jim Grandey retired from the office. She was later elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

Collins told The Highland County Press that Archer formerly worked as a prosecutor in Highland County and “taught me how to try cases.

“They asked, and I know Bill and practiced with him a long time,” Collins said. “He was a great mentor. I know he needs help, and I’m glad to help. 

“I think a lot of Bill. He was a great mentor to me. It was an easy decision to help him.”
 
In addition to Collins, Archer also applied for a special prosecutor from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for the Siders case. Judge Roges appointed Ohio Attorney General Andrew Wilson and Assistant Attorney General Kara Keating as special prosecuting attorneys.

According to the initial press release from the Ohio AG’s office, “The 16 children were removed from the home and are in temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. The children were initially transported to local hospitals for evaluation. Some were treated and released, while others were transported to elevated medical care and hospitalized in serious condition.”

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