http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/09/12/us-mom-charged-after-children-found-living-in-wooden-crate-in-underground-cave

The Associated Press

Saturday, September 12, 2015 8:19:02 EDT PM


KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A 24-year-old mother is in custody Saturday after her two young children were found barefoot, dirty and living in a wooden shipping crate in an underground cave on the eastern edge of Kansas City, Missouri.

Brittany Mugrauer was charged Friday night with two counts of felony child endangerment.

Jackson County detectives discovered the 4- and 6-year-old children Thursday in the 8-by-10-foot (2.4-by-3-meter) crate furnished with vehicle bench seats, two small blankets, trash and thin wires. According to the probable cause statement, the crate was missing one side and surrounded by car parts and vehicles in various states of disrepair.

The investigators, who went to the cave to serve a search warrant related to a possible stolen car operation, noted that the children did not appear frightened by them or the fact that they were alone.

The 4-year-old child was using hands to eat a dirty, dry cup of ramen noodles, a detective wrote. When asked why they weren't wearing any shoes, the children responded that they didn't have any. The older child told officers he should be in first grade but did not go to school.

The children were taken to Children's Mercy Hospital where they were evaluated, bathed and given clean clothes.

Mugrauer told investigators that her children had been living in the cave for several days and acknowledged leaving them there alone, the probable cause statement says. She was taken into custody Friday afternoon and has not yet appeared in court.

A spokesman for the Jackson County prosecutor's office said Saturday that he didn't think Mugrauer has an attorney.

The extensive network of caves is the product of massive limestone mining in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Years after the mining operations ceased, companies started finding ways to use the millions of square feet of abandoned underground space. The caves house hundreds of businesses, many of which specialize in storage or warehousing because they are protected from extreme weather and have year-round temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).

Many of the caves feature paved roads, utilities and developed business space, while others, such as the one where the children were found, consist of dirt floors and uncontrolled entrances.

That is so sad. I wonder if the mother is mentally ill?

I think she is a little more then mentally ill.

Thank goodness for the alleged stolen cars. I'd be thrilled if my stolen car led to that discovery. The kids had to be starving to eat uncooked Ramun noodles. At least the mom didn't kill them and thankfully they were found in time. The mom will get help or punishment, whichever applies.

Which do you think she should get mental help or punishment? Myself I think she needs to be kept locked up. I believe that she is very aware of what she was doing.

She admitted to just leaving them there with no food water or proper clothing. The eldest was old enough to be in grade one but had not been signed up for school . I think she just didn't want to take care of her kids.

There isn't enough information to know what is on her mind. She may be retarded, mentally ill, a drug addict, or just plain evil.

It makes you wonder how she got past having the first child and what has been going on since then.

I don't think she has a learning difficulty or has a mental health problem either way if she does that is not an excuse although I could see her try to use that as one. If she had a drug addiction problem that too is not an excuse I think she is incredibly self absorbed and did not care any more.


I am not sure how she managed to raise her first child either .

Woman belongs under the prison.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/09/13/missouri-mom-charged-after-kids-found-living-in-crate-underground-cave/

http://www.people.com/article/boyfriend-defends-missouri-mom-whose-kids-found-living-cave/


The boyfriend of a mother whose children were found living inside a crate in an underground cave in Kansas City, Missouri, has said the allegations against her are unfounded.

Brittany Mugrauer, 24, was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child over the weekend after authorities found her children, ages 4 and 6, "completely covered in dirt and filth from head to foot," according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.
(Kansas City has an extensive network of caves underground that house hundreds of businesses, the product of large-scale limestone mining near the turn of the 20th century. Many of the caves have paved roads and utilities, but others, such as the one in which the children were found, have dirt floors and uncontrolled entrances, the Associated Press reports.)

The documents state that Jackson County sheriff's deputies had been investigating reports of a possible "chop shop" at the cave when they found the children in an unattended "wooden crate."

"The 6-year-old was dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of nylon pants which were too long and folded under the child's feet," the court documents read. "The second child, age 4, was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. The four year old was holding a cup of Ramen noodles which was dry. The cup had dirt in it with the noodles which the child was eating with the child's hands."

A parent was not located and a detective was called to take custody of the children. Mugrauer was detained a day later.

However, Mugrauer's boyfriend, a man identified in the court documents only as "Sean," insists that the the allegations and subsequent media coverage are the product of a misunderstanding, and that kids just used the crate as a fort in which to play. Surveillance video that he provided to KSHB shows that the crate was located in the back of his auto repair shop, Underground Diesel, which is inside the cave.

The company defended the set-up on its Facebook page, writing: "The kids were not left in a crate the[y] were in their playhouse and they were left in the supervision of 2 adults, these kids beg to come to the shop every single day they were dirty from playing with their toy trucks, does this look like a crate to you, you cannot believe everything you see on the news."

The company also posted pictures of the alleged crate on Facebook. The images show a large, open box covered in monster truck stickers with two vehicle bench seats on the floor. Underground Diesel and Sean did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

After being taken to the hospital, where they were bathed and provided with clean clothing, the children identified their mother as "Brittany" and said that "they did not know where she was other than she had taken 'Sean,' her boyfriend, to the hospital as he 'smashed his finger,' " according to the court documents.

The children also told police that they lived in the cave with their mother, the documents state. "They stated that they had no toys at the cave, no other clothing, no shoes, and that there was no water or place to cook."

Mugrauer told authorities that the children had only been living in the cave for "several days," though she did admit to leaving them there without a parent present.

The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office tells PEOPLE that the investigation is ongoing.

What I want to know is where is the Bio dad or dads. ?
In these & all cases of abuse where the mom is in question, suspect or being charged. Why, are the Bio dads, never charged with neglect, etc..?
It doesn't matter to me if he is or is not in the mother's life or even if he is in the child's life.
If his name is on the birth certificate, they are also responsible for that child, just as the mother is.
Fry her? Okay.. fry the sperm donors too.

* Dramatic Music *

it seemed like something was missing, namely where the mother lived

kids play,,,and I thought they could have just been playing too

who was or wasnt present seems something still to discover as well,,,

Thanks for finding more info :)

I agree that Dads should be more responsible with the children's care especially if the Mom is unable or not willing to do the job of parenting.

I'm not sure what the custody agreement was or if there is any in place from the courts. Who knows maybe the biological Dad is in prison.

Prison ?
Then either this lady imprisoned their kids too or it is genetic memory & these kids are having rehearsals to be like dear ol'dad.

The children also told police that they lived in the cave with their mother, the documents state. "They stated that they had no toys at the cave, no other clothing, no shoes, and that there was no water or place to cook."

Mugrauer told authorities that the children had only been living in the cave for "several days," though she did admit to leaving them there without a parent present.

Quote

I am not sure were they were living before the cave or how the Mom was eventually found . There are a lot of questions that still need to be answered agreed.

That ditchwitch ought to be burned at the stake.

1 in 30 kids is homeless anymore, something like one and a half million. Just living on the street, or trading sex for couch surfing, and other undesirable circumstances.


Personally, I think that's probably going to be a mistake.

What are the consequences?

One scenario she gets to keep her kids, only now she has a felony record, her kids may be estranged having been separated from her while she's doing time for a bit, good luck getting a job that pays enough for non cave rent plus child mental health bills with a Obamacare $5000 deductible with that.

Other scenario she loses her kids, they get put into the foster care and juvenile system nightmare, learning new ways in how to be criminals, emotionally stunted, and bad parents.
Meanwhile mom gets out, and probably has more kids.

Let the fuggers live in a cave. At least it has a roof and walls.