Florida couple accused of keeping four children locked inside a truck cab for nearly six years without school or showers

A Florida couple is currently facing serious child neglect charges after investigators discovered four children had been living in the cab of a tractor-trailer for nearly six years. As detailed by Fox News, Keisha Epps, 51, and her fiancé, Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, were taken into custody on August 6, 2026, following a report filed by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. According to the details provided in the arrest records, the children were kept in the vehicle for the majority of their days while Epps worked as a truck driver, traveling between Miami and Atlanta.

Investigators noted that the four children were forced to share a bunk that was so small they had to sleep curled up side by side because they simply could not fit otherwise. The environment they were living in was completely devoid of basic necessities. The children told interviewers at a child advocacy center that they had not been allowed to attend school for approximately five years. Furthermore, they were denied the opportunity to take showers, use the restroom, or even get outside for exercise.

The lack of care extended to their physical health as well. The arrest report indicates that the children were fed poorly and never received any form of medical or dental care, even during emergencies. One of the children shared a harrowing story with investigators about a time she burned herself badly with cooked noodles. She told them, “There was a lot of blood,” yet neither Epps nor Stewart took her to receive medical treatment. As a result, the child is left with a permanent scar. Another child was found to have an untreated sexually transmitted infection.

Detectives say the mistreatment extended into abuse the children tried to report

A detective on the case observed that the children were walking with an unnatural gait, which was attributed to their long-term confinement in the cramped space. Beyond the physical neglect, there were allegations of abuse. The children reported that Stewart would watch them while Epps was sleeping, showering, or driving.

When the children witnessed sexual abuse and confronted Stewart, he allegedly beat them by punching them in the heads. Other prolonged child confinement cases have also drawn scrutiny this year, including one involving 16 children found in an Ohio home. When they told Epps about the sexual abuse they witnessed, she reportedly called them derogatory names and continued to leave them alone with Stewart.

Both Epps and Stewart are currently being held in the Duval County Jail as they await trial. They are each facing four counts of child neglect, which are third-degree felonies in Florida. Each count carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and a fine of up to $5,000.

Additionally, court documents indicate that capital sexual battery charges against Stewart will be filed in the 9th Judicial District by the Statewide Prosecutor. Under Florida law, a conviction for the sexual battery of a child younger than 12 can result in the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The state’s definition of child neglect is clear under Florida Statute 827.03, which covers a caregiver’s willful failure to provide the care, supervision, and services necessary to maintain a child’s physical and mental health. This includes food, nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, and medical services that any prudent person would consider essential.

Investigators allege the couple’s actions demonstrated a willful failure to provide the care and supervision necessary for the children’s well-being. The case adds to a string of child neglect prosecutions nationwide this year, including one tied to a Utah toddler’s death. Bond for Epps has been set at $400,012, while Stewart is being held without bond.