Shocking Discovery: Seven Children Found in the Back of a U-Haul

Recently, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers made a disturbing discovery during a routine traffic stop on I-44 near Marshfield, Missouri. They found seven children, ages 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 13, being transported in the back of a U-Haul box truck. The children were accompanied by 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.”

The two men responsible for driving the truck, Shaikiem Bristol and Musa Omar, had rented the vehicle in Arizona and were planning on driving through the St. Louis area to Buffalo, New York. The truck had no power or air conditioning in the rear cargo area, and the conditions inside were described as sweltering.

During the trip, the men admitted to stopping every 1.5-2 hours to prevent the occupants from getting too hot. The truck was equipped with three mattresses on the floor and one in storage near the roof. The back of the U-Haul was dirty and filled with trash, clothes, and food containers.

Both Bristol and Omar are facing seven counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk and have been denied bond. Two women also face similar charges in connection with the incident.

Fortunately, all children were released to the Department of Family services after the incident.