According to local law enforcement officials, two men were pulled over on a Missouri highway while they were transporting a U-Haul truck. The cargo box of the truck was poorly ventilated and it contained several young children.
Shaikiem Bristol, 31, and Musa Omar, 22, informed the Missouri State Highway Patrol that they were alternating the driving duties as they made their way from Arizona to New York.
Bristol identified two women in the passenger seat: his sister and his fiancée. Court documents obtained by KY3 revealed that Bristol stated they had traveled to Arizona to pick up a girl who had been kicked out by her mother. The other woman and both men are from Buffalo, New York, which was their intended destination.
According to court documents, the trooper observed that Bristol’s breathing was “short and rapid.” Similarly, the women’s breathing also appeared to be unusual when they were questioned by the trooper.
The trooper became suspicious when he discovered discrepancies in the accounts of their journey. He requested Bristol’s consent to search the rear of the truck, which was granted. However, Bristol cautioned the trooper that they would find “beds, clothing, and five adults and seven kids.”
Law enforcement discovered that the cargo area was filled with rubbish, food containers, and soiled clothing. It was observed in the documentation that the back of the truck lacked air conditioning, causing both the children and adults to be drenched in sweat. Troopers noted that some of the children seemed to have gone several hours without a diaper change.
The Department of Family Services was visited by the children, resulting in the arrest of the two women. Bristol and Omar, who are currently being held without bond, have been charged with seven counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, which has created a substantial risk.
