A Florida couple is facing child-neglect charges after authorities alleged that four children spent most of their time living inside the cab of a tractor-trailer for nearly seven years. Investigators say the children were deprived of regular schooling, medical and dental care, adequate hygiene, exercise and normal opportunities to leave the vehicle.
Keisha Monique Epps, 51, and her fiancé, Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, were arrested in Jacksonville on August 6, 2026, after a multi-jurisdictional investigation. Each faces four counts of child neglect, while investigators have also made far more serious allegations involving Stewart and one of the children.
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Investigators say four children lived inside the truck since 2019
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrest report, the children had allegedly been living inside Epps’ semitruck since December 2019, with all four reportedly sharing a single bed in the cab.
“Since December of 2019, the four children have lived in the cab of a semitruck, all sharing one bed.”
Investigators allege the children spent the “majority of their days” inside the vehicle while Epps worked as a truck driver on a route between Miami and Atlanta. Stewart, her fiancé, allegedly supervised them when Epps was driving, sleeping or showering.
The arrest report says the children were “…rarely allowed out of the cab of the truck, even if they needed to use the restroom.” They reportedly told a child advocacy center that they had not been allowed to attend school for approximately five years.
Authorities say the children received some education through an app, but investigators determined it was not a formal program or accredited institution. The arrest report also alleges they were “fed poorly, did not attend school…did not receive medical care.”
The cramped conditions reportedly went far beyond a lack of schooling. Investigators said the children slept curled up together because of the limited space and had restricted access to showers, toilets, outdoor activity and exercise.
Authorities also noted that the children were walking with an “unnatural gait,” which investigators associated with the prolonged confinement.
The alleged lack of medical attention became particularly concerning when investigators learned about injuries and illness. One child reportedly said she badly burned herself with cooked noodles, resulting in “a lot of blood.” Instead of being taken to a medical professional, Epps allegedly “just wrapped it” and later “rewrapped it again.” The injury reportedly left a permanent scar.
Another child was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection during a Child Protection Team examination in Clay County in May 2026. Investigators allege the infection had remained untreated.
But the investigation took an even more serious turn when detectives were already looking into Stewart.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office detectives were investigating him in connection with a sexual-battery case when they located him at a Forward Air facility in Jacksonville. The children’s circumstances reportedly came to light during that investigation.
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According to the arrest report, the children told investigators they had “witnessed some sexual abuse by suspect 1 (Tamra Stewart) and confronted him,” allegedly referring to Stewart sexually abusing one of the children.
Investigators further allege that Stewart retaliated after the confrontation by punching the children in the head. Another account based on the arrest records says the children described him as having “beat them by punching them in their heads, multiple times.”
The children allegedly told Epps about the abuse. Investigators say she did not protect them and continued leaving them with Stewart. The arrest report states she “did not believe them, then called {redacted} derogatory names and continued to leave them alone with Suspect 1 (Stewart).”
The children’s identities, ages and other identifying information have been withheld because they are minors. Public records also have not fully disclosed how the children were rescued, how they came to live in the truck or their exact relationship to Stewart.
Epps and Stewart were booked into Duval County Jail. Epps’ bond was approximately $400,000, with court records reportedly listing $100,003 for each of her four counts, while Stewart was held without bond. Epps was also placed under GPS monitoring and restricted from contacting minors, alleged victims, witnesses and Stewart. She was prohibited from possessing firearms or consuming alcohol or drugs.
The child-neglect charges are separate from the sexual-battery allegations against Stewart. Court documents reportedly state that “capital sexual battery charges” are expected against him in the Ninth Judicial District from the Statewide Prosecutor. Under Florida law, capital sexual battery can carry life imprisonment without parole and, in certain qualifying circumstances, the death penalty. Stewart has not been convicted of those allegations.
Forward Air said Epps was an independent subcontractor rather than a direct employee and confirmed she had been removed from service and was ineligible for dispatch while the criminal proceedings continued.
“This individual is an independent subcontractor, not a Forward Air employee. She has been removed from service and is ineligible for dispatch while criminal proceedings are ongoing. The alleged conduct is inconsistent with Forward Air’s values and commitment to the highest levels of safety. Forward Air is fully cooperating with local officials on their investigation into this matter.”
Forensic psychologist Dr. Justin D’Arienzo told Action News Jax that abuse by a caretaker can fundamentally change a child’s sense of safety.
“The problem is when a caretaker allows a child to be abused or abuses a child, fundamentally their sense of safety and the world change,”
He also warned that moving children between different forms of care can create additional difficulties:
“Often when kids experience something like this, they get displaced and they go from home to home as their caretakers are being rehabilitated. So that can do other damage too,”
D’Arienzo said children can recover with appropriate care and resources, although recovery may be difficult.
The case remains under investigation. Authorities are expected to determine what additional charges Stewart may face, while the existing neglect allegations will be tested in court. The children remain protected from public identification, and their current location has not been released.
More Court Proceedings: Legal cases involving disputed evidence and conflicting accounts are playing out in courtrooms elsewhere too, including a closely watched retrial hearing where prosecutors and the defense clashed over what really happened. For more, dive into our story on Karmelo Anthony Retrial Hearing Unseals Hidden Evidence and Off-the-Record Agreement: Prosecution and Defense Clashed over “What Happened Under the Tent”.
Disclaimer: This article is based on thorough research of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrest report and reporting from Action News Jax, WOKV, Forward Air, People, Law&Crime, Fox News and True Crime News. The allegations of confinement, child neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse remain allegations at this stage. Epps and Stewart are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Information concerning the minor victims has been withheld or redacted to protect their identities.
Sources
- WOKV
- RollingOut
- People — Four siblings allegedly held in truck for seven years
- Law&Crime — Detailed account based on Jacksonville arrest reports
- Fox News — Florida truck-driver child-neglect case and expected sexual-battery charges
- True Crime News — original report supplied for this article
Featured Image Credit: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
Image 2 Credit: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
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