Four kids found in deplorable conditions left with ‘unnatural’ walk after being ‘confined to tractor trailer for YEARS’

FOUR children were allegedly confined to the cab of a tractor-trailer for nearly seven years – leaving them with an “unnatural” walk, cops say. The kids were reportedly forced to sleep curled up together in a tiny bunk and were deprived of schooling, medical care and even regular access to showers and a bathroom. Keisha Epps, 51, pictured in her mugshot Credit: Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Keisha’s fiancé Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, was also arrested Credit: Jacksonville Sheriff's Office The Florida couple faces neglect charges for allegedly confining four kids in a tractor-trailer cab (stock image) Credit: Getty Florida couple Keisha Epps, 51, and her fiancé Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, have now been charged with child neglect over the alleged horror conditions. The children had reportedly been living inside the truck’s cab with the couple since December 2019 as Epps worked as a truck driver on a route between Miami and Atlanta. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! They were allegedly kept inside the vehicle “for the majority of their days,” according to court documents. Investigators claim the confinement had taken such a toll that a detective noticed the children were “walking with an unnatural gait from being confined to the cab.” The four kids allegedly shared a single bunk where they had to lie “curled up side by side because they could not fit.” They also claimed they were not given enough time to shower, use the restroom or exercise outside the truck. And the children told interviewers at a child advocacy center they “have not been allowed to attend school for approximately five years,” Fox News reported. Investigators said the youngsters were “fed poorly” and allegedly received no medical or dental care – even when they were injured. Most read in The Sun One child recalled suffering a serious burn from cooked noodles while living in the truck. “There was a lot of blood,” she told investigators. The child claimed neither Epps nor Stewart sought medical treatment for the injury, which allegedly left her with a “permanent scar”. More disturbing allegations emerged when the children were interviewed by investigators. They reportedly claimed they witnessed sexual abuse and confronted Stewart about it. Stewart then allegedly “beat them by punching them in their heads,” according to the reports. The identity of the alleged sexual abuse victim was unclear in the heavily redacted court documents. The children also claimed they told Epps about the alleged abuse and that she had witnessed it herself. Investigators allege Epps called one of the children “derogatory names and continued to leave them alone with” Stewart. One of the four children was also reportedly discovered to have an untreated sexually transmitted infection. The reports do not disclose the children’s ages, sexes, relationships to one another or their relationships to Epps and Stewart. Stewart allegedly watched the youngsters while Epps was driving, sleeping or showering. Epps and Stewart were both arrested on August 6 following the investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Each has been charged with four counts of child neglect – one for each child. Investigators alleged their actions amounted to a “committed, willful failure or omission to provide a child with the care, supervision, and services necessary to maintain the child’s physical and mental health, including but not limited to, food, nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, medicine and medical services that a prudent person would consider essential to the wellbeing of the child.” Each child neglect count is a third-degree felony carrying a possible sentence of up to five years behind bars, as well as up to five years of probation and a fine of up to $5,000. Court documents also state that “capital sexual battery charges” against Stewart will be filed in Florida’s 9th Judicial District by the Statewide Prosecutor. Under Florida law, a person convicted of sexual battery against a child younger than 12 can face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Epps and Stewart remain behind bars in the Duval County Jail awaiting trial. Epps’ bond was set at $400,012, while Stewart was being held without bond. Comment now