The mother of 16 children rescued from a house of horrors, living like 'feral animals,' once gave birth to conjoined twins, newly released state records have disclosed.

Sixteen children have been removed from a filthy, deteriorating property where they were "kept in worse conditions than livestock."

Authorities have described the alleged offences as an 'intrafamily' case, indicating some of the children may have been born from incestuous relationships within the family.

Officials state the children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years old, "looked like feral animals" with four adults, Gary Siders Jr, Gary Siders Sr, Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders, understood to be the parents and grandparents, now facing criminal charges.

Prosecutor William Archer stated the carers were responsible for causing "serious physical harm". Fresh documentation uncovered regarding the case shows that Elizabeth Siders gave birth to daughters Bailey Lee and Faith Lee Siders at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, in 2022.

They were born with a condition known as thoracopagus, where their faces and chests were conjoined.

They tragically passed away later that day, according to the records.

Deputies encountered a horrifying scene, with all the children confined to a crumbling three-and-a-half square metre structure covered in human excrement. The appalling conditions, which the children are said to have endured for four years, were described as "pure evil," by Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.

Wilson described the children as existing in "conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in."

He observed that several children were unable to communicate verbally, with investigators revealing that an 18 year old discovered at the property could not write her name. Wilson stated: "It was terrible. They looked like almost feral animals. It was terrible."

Two parents and two grandparents each face 17 counts of endangering children, a second-degree felony.

Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain expressed his shock at what was discovered, stating: "Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children."

Seven of the children were taken to Columbus hospitals, with two requiring emergency airlift.

Wilson confirmed that one child remained in critical condition on Tuesday, while the others were receiving medical treatment.

He emphasised that the priority was tackling the children's physical health, while also acknowledging the severe psychological trauma their prolonged captivity would have inflicted.

Officials declined to specify how all the children were related to one another, but confirmed this was not a human trafficking case.

The four suspects have no links to the local community, and investigators believe they had been constantly relocating to avoid establishing medical and government records.

"These folks were pretty good at hiding these kids," Mr Wilson said. Prosecutor Archer declared: "Our children deserve better from their parents, guardians, and custodians. No child should endure these kinds of conditions.

"My office will do everything in our power to make sure these children get the love and care they deserve. My office will prosecute these persons to the fullest extent of the law."

The four defendants made their appearance at Vinton County Court of Common Pleas on Wednesday morning and remain in custody on $300,000 bail. Investigators believe the Siders family has been living across several Ohio counties since 2008 and are looking into whether they had any previous dealings with children's services.

The harrowing discovery took place in the small township of Hamden, home to fewer than 1,000 residents, situated roughly 60 miles to the south-east of Columbus.