Tragic Case of Child Neglect: Florida Couple Faces Charges for Confining Children in Tractor-Trailer for Years
A couple from Florida is facing charges of child neglect for allegedly keeping four children confined in the cab of a tractor-trailer for nearly six years without allowing them basic necessities like showers, restroom breaks, or outdoor exercise. The children were also deprived of education for about five years, as reported by a child advocacy center.
Keisha Epps, 51, and her fiancé, Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, lived in the cab with the children while Epps worked as a truck driver on a route between Miami and Atlanta. The children spent most of their days inside the vehicle since December 2019, according to court documents.
The children showed signs of physical distress from being confined, including an unnatural gait. They were poorly fed, lacked medical and dental care, and one child suffered a severe burn injury that went untreated. Stewart was accused of physically abusing the children and engaging in sexual abuse, with one child found to have an untreated sexually transmitted infection.
Epps and Stewart were arrested on August 6, 2026, and charged with four counts of child neglect, each count carrying a potential penalty of up to five years in prison, probation, and a fine. Stewart may face capital sexual battery charges in the 9th Judicial District, which could result in the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole under Florida law.
The identities and details of the children were redacted from reports, and Epps and Stewart are currently in custody at the Duval County Jail awaiting trial. Epps has a bond set at $400,012, while Stewart is being held without bond. The case highlights the severe neglect and abuse suffered by the children in this tragic situation.