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4 Children Allegedly Spent Years Confined Inside Semitruck, Rarely Allowed Out as Abuse Continued
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4 Children Allegedly Spent Years Confined Inside Semitruck, Rarely Allowed Out as Abuse Continued
Four children allegedly spent years confined inside the cab of a semitruck, rarely being allowed outside and sleeping in a space so cramped they could not fully stretch out.
Keisha Monique Epps, 51, and her fiancé, Tamra Stewart, 37, both of Georgia, were arrested August 6 following an investigation in Jacksonville, Florida.
Epps faces four counts of child neglect, while Stewart faces capital sexual battery charges.
Investigators say the children had been living inside Epps’ semitruck since around December 2019 while she worked as a long-haul truck driver traveling routes between Atlanta and Miami.
All four children allegedly shared a single bunk and had to curl up to sleep because there was not enough room for them to fully lie down.
The children told investigators they were rarely allowed outside the truck, had limited access to bathrooms, did not receive adequate food and had gone years without attending a traditional school.
Their last confirmed enrollment in a recognized school was in November 2020. They were reportedly instructed to use an app for their education, but investigators determined it was not an accredited educational institution.
The children also allegedly went without proper medical and dental care.
One child suffered a serious burn when hot noodles spilled on her but was allegedly never taken to a hospital. The injury reportedly left her with a permanent scar.
Investigators say the children were also subjected to physical and sexual abuse.
Stewart is accused of sexually abusing the children while Epps was driving, sleeping or bathing. One child reportedly contracted a sexually transmitted disease.
The children allegedly tried to tell Epps what was happening, but investigators say she refused to believe them and continued leaving them alone with Stewart.
Investigators also documented allegations that the children were punched in the head.
By the time authorities encountered the children, a detective noted that they walked with what was described as an “unnatural gait,” which investigators believed was connected to years of physical trauma and confinement.
Epps’ bond was set at $100,003 on each of her four child neglect charges, totaling $400,012. Her conditions include GPS monitoring and orders prohibiting contact with minors, the alleged victims, witnesses or her co-defendant.
The charges against Epps and Stewart are allegations, and both are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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