LIBERTY, Mo. - The custody case for the children of a missing Northland mother will be drawn out at least through the summer.
A Clay County judge Friday set the trial for July 31.
Renee Pernice's two sons, ages 9 and 6, have been living with their dad, Shon Pernice, since she went missing in January.
But Renee's mom, Linda Lockwood, is hoping to change that. She wants the boys to live with her.
"Of course we miss Renee,” Lockwood said. “Having them there would make us know we have a part of her.”
Lockwood filed a petition seeking guardianship of the two boys. In it, she says Shon is an "unfit" parent.
The court documents claim that Shon left the two boys alone at least once, brandished a gun in front of them and tried to take money out of the children's bank accounts in Renee's name.
The petition also highlights Shon Pernice's recent felony charge for allegedly stealing his neighbor's gun.
Shon Pernice has been questioned in connection to his wife’s disappearance, but no suspects have been named in the case.
Prosecutors presumed Renee Pernice dead in February, after nobody had heard from her in more than a month.
