Couple accused of keeping four kids in truck, abusing them

Florida officials on Tuesday said they charged two suspects with a long list of heinous crimes for allegedly abusing and neglecting four children for more than six years. Tamra Stewart and Keysha Epps are accused of keeping the two girls and two boys confined in the cab of Epps’ semitruck for that entire time. The suspects were the children’s primary caregivers. They are considered legally innocent until proven guilty in court.

The girls said Stewart sexually abused them for years. The boys said they were beaten for confronting the adults about it, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. The children also had to share a single bunk and were deprived of adequate food, hygiene, schooling, and medical care, Uthmeier said. Two experienced significant scarring from untreated burns, and one developed a sexually transmitted infection, according to authorities.

Stewart faces six counts related to sexual abuse and battery, along with four counts of child neglect. Epps faces many of the same charges, along with four counts of failure to report child abuse, Uthmeier said.

Dig deeper: Read Liz Lykins’ report on the state of Florida’s decision to remove license plate reader cameras from highways.