Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced this week that Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Keysha Monique Epps, 51, of Atlanta, Georgia, have been charged in Orange County with sexually battering, molesting, and neglecting four children who were confined in the cab of a truck for more than six years.
“These children were trapped in a rolling prison and abused by the adults who were supposed to protect them,” said Uthmeier. “Florida has zero tolerance for anyone who preys on children. We will seek the maximum punishment under the law.”
Keysha Monique Epps (left) and Tamra Marshon Stewart
The children were reportedly required to share a single bunk and were allegedly denied adequate food, hygiene, schooling and medical care. Two of the children also allegedly suffered untreated burns that left significant scarring. After leaving the Epps’ and Stewart’s custody, one child was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection.
The two girls disclosed years of sexual abuse by Stewart. The two boys reported witnessing the abuse and said they were beaten after they confronted Stewart and told Epps. It’s also alleged Epps knew of the abuse, failed to stop it, and failed to report it as required by Florida law.
During a post-Miranda interview, Stewart admitted to three sexual batteries against one of the girls.
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 is 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.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.
