Young mum charged after children 'found living inside crate that was hidden in a cave'

The barefoot children aged 4 and 6 were covered in dirt, had no drinking water and were eating from a cup of dirty dried noodles. 

 mum has been charged by police after her young children were found living in crate that was hidden in a cave.

Brittany Mugrauer is accused of endangering the welfare of the children after the youngsters, aged four and six, were discovered in what police believe to have been an illegal car parts shop.

The 24-year-old was arrested  on Friday after officers stumbled across the children while searching the cave as part of an investigation into the motor chop shop.

The barefoot children found in the wooden shipping crate were covered in dirt, had no drinking water and were eating from a cup of dirty dried noodles, the office said Saturday in a probable cause statement.

The Jackson County prosecutor's office said the location is part of a series of caves left over from limestone mining a century ago. Storage and warehousing companies have been set up in the caves.

One unidentified man who said he was checking on storage space at the location said he was "horrified" at the news children were found living there.

"I never expected to hear anything like that at all. I just came here to check on storage space and saw you guys here. I just found out about that so. I would be, just as any person would, I'd be horrified to hear that."

The 8-by-10-foot crate, with one side missing, contained two automobile bench seats, two small blankets, trash and some thin wires, police documents stated.

e crate was at the rear of the cool, damp cave near some disassembled cars and ground soaked with vehicle fluid, the statement said.

The children told investigators they lived in the cave with their mother, had no toys or other clothing and that there was no place to cook.

Mugrauer was not in the cave when detectives found the children alone Thursday and later told them she had been living in the cave for several days, the statement said.

She remained in jail Saturday, and the prosecutor's office said it will seek a $75,000 (£48,600) bond.

The children were taken to hospital for examination and to get bathed and dressed in clean clothing.

Ur mirror.