A St. George woman accused of kidnapping three boys by holding them against their will during a July Fourth tent sleepover has been found mentally competent by two court-appointed evaluators.
Krista Leanne Wertenberger-Moss, 38, is charged in 5th District Court with three counts of first-degree felony child kidnapping for refusing to let the boys, all 11 or younger, leave the tent.
A preliminary hearing was set for Aug. 24 before Judge James Shumate.
The boys were camping outside their apartment complex on the holiday. Wertenberger-Moss, who also lives in the complex, entered the tent at about 2:30 a.m., according to police.
She told them their mothers had given her permission to baby-sit, then began playing "Moment of Truth," which included sexually explicit questions, according to charging documents.
The boys were "very uncomfortable" with the questions, the charges state. And when they tried to leave, Wertenberger-Moss prevented them by blocking the entrance to the tent.
She also put makeup on their faces and arms. When they wanted to use a bathroom, Wertenberger-Moss told them their doors were locked, and they would have to use her bathroom. She allowed the boys to use her bathroom and remove the makeup there.
After Wertenberger-Moss finally let them leave at about 7 a.m., the boys told their parents, who called police.
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