WEBSTER COUNTY, Mo. — Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers found seven children being transported in the back of a U-Haul box truck after a traffic stop on I-44 Sunday evening near Marshfield, Missouri.
The children, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 13, were in the truck's storage area with three women, according to court records.
"All the occupants were sweaty from the heat in the rear of the truck," a trooper cited in the court records said. "Most of the children had dirty diapers that had not appeared to have been changed in hours."
Two men, 31-year-old Shaikiem Bristol and 22-year-old Musa Omar, were taking turns driving the truck from Arizona, planning on driving through the St. Louis area to Buffalo, New York, the court records said.
"The heat from the back cargo area of the Uhaul was noticeably warmer," the court documents said. "There was no power or air conditioning in the rear of the truck."
The truck, rented by Omar, also had three mattresses on the floor and one in storage near the roof, records said.
"The back of the Uhaul was dirty with trash, various clothes, and food containers," the documents said.
Both Bristol and Omar are each facing seven counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk. They were both denied bond.
According to court records, Bristol admitted to Missouri State Highway Police that they tried to stop every 1.5-2 hours during the trip so the occupants wouldn't get too hot.
Two women were also arrested and face similar charges.
All children were released to the Department of Family services.
