2 boys found in KC caves released to father
Brittany Mugrauer released on own recognizance
Two young boys found in storage caves last week will remain officially in the custody of Children's Services, but were allowed to go home with their father Tuesday.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker charged the children's mother, Brittany Mugrauer, 24, with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Mugrauer, who recently moved to the area from Florida, appeared in court Tuesday and was released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court on Oct. 7.
Another hearing about the children is scheduled for Sept. 30.
The judge has ordered DNA tests performed on the children to verify paternity, since the children were born in Florida. Mugrauer will have to have a psychological assessment and both parents will need to have substance abuse evaluations.
Jackson County Sheriff's deputies found the children in a wooden crate on Thursday in the back of a repair shop.
Surveillance video from the cave that day showed that the mother left the boys in the care of other adults while she took the repair shop owner to a hospital to get stitches in his injured hand.
The boys are also seen in the video playing in the underground automotive shop. Workers said the boys were heading back to the crate to take a nap after eating breakfast.
The owner of the repair shop contended that the boys were not left alone and were well cared for.