Authorities rescue 16 children in the US in situations of "serious neglect"

At least 16 children were rescued from a home in the village of Hamden, Ohio, after authorities found what they described as gross neglect and unsafe living conditions while executing an unrelated search warrant, authorities said Wednesday.

The children, ages 18 months to 18 years, had been confined to a single room for much of the past four years and were not enrolled in school, according to investigators.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said the children "looked almost like wild animals" when they were found.

"It was terrible," Wilson added. "The 18-year-old doesn't know how to spell his own name."

Four family members - identified by authorities as the children's parents and grandparents - were charged with the crime of exposing minors to risk and appeared in court on Wednesday (1st), where bail was set at US$300,000 each.

The children have been placed in temporary state custody and are receiving medical care while authorities continue to investigate the case.

Source: CNN