Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that his office plans to seek the death penalty for two individuals accused of confining and abusing four children over several years. Keisha Monique Epps, 51, and Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, face charges including sexual battery, molestation, and neglect of two girls and two boys aged 5, 6, and 9.
The accused lived with the children in the cab of a tractor-trailer. Epps worked as a truck driver on a route between Miami and Atlanta, as stated in court documents. Both Epps and Stewart were arrested on August 6 and remain jailed pending trial on child neglect charges.
“These children were trapped in a rolling prison and abused by the adults who were supposed to protect them,” Uthmeier stated. “We will pursue the death penalty. We will seek executions for those who physically molest, abuse, and violate our children in Florida.”
Florida law permits prosecutors to seek the death penalty for adults convicted of sexually abusing a child under 12. Reports show that Stewart abused the girls for years, and when the boys confronted Stewart about the abuse, they were physically assaulted.
The children reported that Epps was aware of the ongoing abuse and did not intervene. She also verbally mistreated one of the children and allowed them to remain in Stewart’s care, according to reports. Stewart admitted to at least three incidents of sexual battery on one of the girls.
In addition to sexual abuse, the children endured severe neglect. Confined to the truck cab, they were denied basic hygiene needs and exercise, as reported by investigators. They had to use cups and paper bags for bathroom needs while the adults took showers and used restrooms during stops.
Uthmeier described the case as “one of, if not the most, horrific” his team has encountered, noting the severe physical and psychological impacts on the children. The children were not allowed to attend school for approximately five years and were poorly fed, receiving no medical or dental care. Two of the children suffered untreated burns leaving them with scars.
The children shared a cramped bunk, highlighting the poor living conditions. Stewart is faced with multiple charges, including sexual battery and child neglect. Epps is also charged with numerous offenses, including failure to report child abuse.
Epps and Stewart are both awaiting trial, held in the Duval County Jail. The public defender’s office represents Stewart, while Epps is represented by Florida’s Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel. Both offices declined to comment before publication.
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