Mother kept her children in cave

A MOTHER has been charged with endangering her two young children after they were found alone, barefoot and dirty living in a cave.

Detectives discovered the youngsters, aged four and six, in a 8ft-by-10ft crate furnished with vehicle seats, two small blankets and rubbish. The crate was missing one side and surrounded by car parts.

Their mother, Brittany Mugrauer, 24, is accused of two counts of child endangerment. The investigators, who went to the cave in Kansas City, Missouri, to serve a search warrant related to a possible stolen car operation, noted that the children did not appear frightened.

Mugrauer said her children had been living in the cave for several days and admitted leaving them there alone.

The caves in Kansas City are the product of limestone mining in the late 1800s. Today they house many businesses that specialise in storage.