A Florida couple, Keisha Epps and Tamra Marshon Stewart, have been charged with child neglect following allegations of keeping four children confined in a tractor-trailer cab for nearly six years. Arrest records indicate that the children were not given adequate time for basic necessities like bathing, using a restroom, or exercising outdoors.
Confinement and Lack of Basic Needs
The children informed interviewers at a child advocacy center that they had not attended school for approximately five years. According to court documents, Epps, 51, worked as a truck driver between Miami and Atlanta and lived with Stewart, 37, and the children in the truck’s cab since December 2019. During this time, the children were confined to the vehicle for most of their days.
A detective observed that the children displayed an unnatural gait due to prolonged confinement. They were reportedly poorly fed and received no medical or dental care, even in emergency situations. One child recounted a severe burn from cooked noodles that went untreated, leaving a permanent scar.
Living Conditions and Allegations of Abuse
Court records disclose that the four children shared a small bunk, necessitating them to sleep curled up side by side. Stewart allegedly watched over the children when Epps was engaged in activities like resting or showering. Reports indicated that when confronted with allegations of sexual abuse, Stewart would physically assault the children. The alleged sexual abuse victim’s identity remains unspecified, but one child was found to have an untreated sexually transmitted infection.
Reports suggest the children informed Epps of the abuse and observed her witnessing such acts. However, she allegedly referred to the children with derogatory terms and continued leaving them in Stewart’s care.
Legal Proceedings
Both Epps and Stewart were arrested on August 6, 2023, and face four counts of child neglect — a third-degree felony punishable by prison time, probation, and fines. Their actions reportedly reflect a willful failure to provide essential care and supervision for the children’s physical and mental well-being.
In addition, Stewart will face charges of capital sexual battery, which under Florida law, can result in severe penalties, including life imprisonment without parole. Epps’ bond was set at $400,012, while Stewart is held without bond. Both remain in Duval County Jail awaiting trial.
Details about the children’s identities and relationships with Epps and Stewart have been redacted from official reports to protect their privacy.