Couple Accused of Holding Four Children in ‘Rolling Prison’ for Six Years, Subjecting Them to Horrific Abuse

A woman and her partner are facing a lengthy list of criminal charges in Florida after prosecutors alleged that four young children were confined for more than six years inside the sleeper compartment of a semi-truck, where they endured abuse, beatings, neglect and deprivation.

Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, of Jacksonville, and Keysha Monique Epps, 51, of Atlanta, Georgia, have been charged in Orange County in connection with the alleged abuse, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday.

“This case is one of if not the most horrific that my team has ever had to work on,” Uthmeier said at a news conference.

According to authorities, Epps worked as a commercial truck driver and, together with Stewart, served as the primary caregiver for four children — two girls and two boys. Investigators said the children lived inside the sleeper cab of Epps’ truck while she regularly traveled between Atlanta and Miami.

Officials allege that from January 2020 until April 2026, the four children — two who were 5 years old, one who was 6 and another who was 9 — were forced to sleep together on a single bunk inside the truck. During that period, authorities say they were deprived of sufficient food, proper hygiene, education and necessary medical treatment.

Investigators said two of the children sustained burns that went untreated and ultimately caused significant scarring.

The two girls told investigators that Stewart had abused them over a period of years. The two boys allegedly witnessed the abuse and said they were beaten after confronting Stewart and informing Epps about what was occurring.

Prosecutors allege that Epps was aware of the abuse but neither intervened to protect the children nor reported what was happening to authorities.

Stewart now faces two counts of battery by a person in familial or custodial authority, 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 battery by a person in familial or custodial authority, 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.

Authorities said the investigation remains active and additional criminal charges could be brought as investigators continue examining the case.

“These children were trapped in a rolling prison and abused by the adults who were supposed to protect them,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “Florida has zero tolerance for anyone who preys on children. We will seek the maximum punishment under the law.”