Arrest and Charges

Keisha Monique Epps, 51, a truck driver, and her fiancé, Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, both from Georgia, were arrested on August 6, 2026, by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office following a multi-jurisdictional investigation, as reported by The Times of India, citing Fox News, and corroborated by the New York Post. According to court documents, Epps faces four counts of child neglect, one for each child, and Stewart faces a single count of capital sexual battery. The arrests were detailed in arrest records and court documents reviewed by Fox News and the New York Post.

Allegations of Confinement

The couple is charged with child neglect after allegedly keeping four children confined in the cab of a tractor-trailer for almost seven years, according to the New York Post, while Fox News's coverage states almost six years. Both outlets report that the children have not been allowed to attend school for approximately five years, and have lived in the cab since December 2019, as Epps drove routes between Miami and Atlanta. Since that time, the children were kept inside the vehicle for the majority of their days, and they were rarely allowed outside to shower, use the restroom, or exercise, according to arrest records and reports by both outlets.

Children's Testimony and Physical Condition

A detective on the case reported the children were walking with an unnatural gait from being confined to the cab. They were fed poorly and never received medical or dental care, even in emergencies, according to court documents. One child told investigators she once burned herself badly with cooked noodles, but neither Stewart nor Epps took her for medical treatment. That child was left with a permanent scar, according to court records.

The Times of India added that the children had not attended a recognized school for several years, with their last confirmed enrollment in November 2020. After that, they were allegedly directed to use an app that was not recognized as an accredited educational institution, according to the same report.

Sexual Abuse Allegations

The children told investigators that Stewart would watch them when Epps was sleeping, showering, or driving. According to the children, when they confronted Stewart about sexual abuse, he beat them by punching them in the heads, as reported by Fox News and the New York Post. The children said they had told Epps about the abuse and that she had witnessed it, but rather than intervene, Epps allegedly called one child derogatory names and continued leaving the children alone with Stewart. One child was found to have an untreated sexually transmitted infection, according to multiple reports.

Three reports describe the children sharing a single bunk in the cab so small they had to sleep curled up beside one another. The New York Post and Fox News reported this detail, but The Times of India also said they slept side by side, curled up.

Legal Proceedings and Bond

The Times of India reports that Epps faces four counts of child neglect, each a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison, five years probation, and a fine of up to $5,000, as reported by the New York Post. Stewart faces a single count of capital sexual battery, and reports that under Florida law, anyone convicted of sexual battery of a child younger than 12 can face the death penalty or life in prison without parole. These charges are reported by Fox News, which notes that this penalty applies if stalking.

In court, all information about the children's identities was redacted from court records, including their sexes, ages, and relationships to each other and to Epps and Stewart. Bond was set at $400,012 for Epps, while Stewart was held without bond, according to multiple outlets.

Perspectives

Prosecutors..

No official statements beyond the alleged ard are included in the provided reasoning.