Florida law enforcement officials have arrested and charged two people accused of abusing and neglecting four children who were kept inside the sleeper cab of a commercial semi-truck for more than six years.
Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, of Jacksonville, and Keysha Monique Epps, 51, of Atlanta, Georgia, face multiple felony charges filed in Orange County.
Investigators say that between January 2020 and April 2026, Epps worked as a commercial truck driver running routes from Atlanta to Miami, making regular stops across Florida, including Orlando.
During this period, Epps and Stewart acted as the primary caregivers for four children who lived with them full-time inside the truck. All four children were forced to share a single bunk.
According to the official investigation, the children were denied formal schooling, adequate food, proper hygiene, and basic medical care. Two of the children sustained severe burn injuries that went untreated, resulting in permanent scarring. After being removed from the defendants’ custody, one child was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection.
Detectives reported that two girls disclosed years of ongoing sexual abuse committed by Stewart. Two boys stated they witnessed the abuse and were beaten after confronting Stewart and informing Epps. Investigators allege that Epps knew about the abuse, failed to stop it, and did not notify authorities as required by Florida law. During a post-Miranda interview with investigators, Stewart admitted to committing three sexual batteries against one of the girls, including an incident that occurred in Orlando.
“These children were trapped in a rolling prison and abused by the adults who were supposed to protect them,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Florida has zero tolerance for anyone who preys on children. We will seek the maximum punishment under the law.”
“Children are Florida’s future—our greatest hopes and our most sacred responsibility,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “The individuals in this case didn’t just break the law; they violated the trust and safety every child deserves. Let this be unmistakably clear: If you harm a child in the state of Florida, we will find you, and we will ensure you are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Protecting children is non-negotiable. Anyone who exploits or harms a child will face the full extent of the law,” said Osceola County Sheriff Chris Blackmon. “The Osceola Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who knows of a child in danger of being harmed to report it to law enforcement immediately. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect our most vulnerable.”
Stewart has been charged with two counts of sexual battery by a person in familial or custodial authority, two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12, two counts of battery of a child by expelling certain fluids or materials, two counts of child neglect without great bodily harm, and two counts of child neglect causing permanent disfigurement.
Epps has been charged with two counts of sexual battery by a person in familial or custodial authority, two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12, two counts of child neglect without great bodily harm, two counts of child neglect causing permanent disfigurement, and four counts of failure to report child abuse.
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