Missouri mom charged after children found living in wooden crate in underground cave

This photo made available by the Jackson County Detention Center on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 shows Brittany Mugrauer. The 24-year-old mother is in custody after her dirty, barefoot 4- and 6-year-old children were found living in a wooden shipping crate in an underground cave on the eastern edge of Kansas City, Mo. Mugrauer was charged Friday with two counts of felony child endangerment. (Jackson County Detention Center via AP) (The Associated Press)

A 24-year-old mother is in custody after her dirty, barefoot 4- and 6-year-old children were found living in a wooden shipping crate in an underground cave in Kansas City, Missouri.

The woman was charged Friday with two counts of felony child endangerment.

Jackson County detectives were serving a search warrant for an alleged stolen car operation in the caves on the city's east side Thursday when they found the children, alone, in the 8-by-10-foot crate furnished with vehicle bench seats.

Prosecutors say the children were poorly clothed, barefoot and covered in dirt, and the younger one was eating from a cup of dry ramen noodles.

A spokesman for the Jackson County prosecutor's office said Saturday he didn't know if the woman has an attorney.