Catherine Hoggle, 38, has been indicted for murder in the case of her two missing children, 3-year-old Sarah Hoggle and 2-year-old Jacob Hoggle, who were last seen in 2014.
After spending nearly three years in a psychiatric facility, Hoggle has been charged with two counts of murder following the children’s disappearance. The Montgomery County State Attorney’s Office confirmed the indictment on Thursday.
Details of the Case
Sarah and Jacob were last seen on September 7, 2014, with their mother. Despite an extensive search effort, their bodies have never been found, and authorities believe the children are deceased. Hoggle initially faced charges of child neglect and obstruction before the murder charges were brought against her.
Over the past five years, Hoggle was declared incompetent to stand trial more than 30 times due to her mental health issues. Her defense attorney previously described her as a “profoundly mentally ill woman”, and she was repeatedly deemed unfit for trial by various judges.
Previous Legal Proceedings and Psychiatric Commitment
In November 2022, a judge dismissed the charges after ruling that Hoggle was still incompetent to stand trial. At that time, Hoggle was committed to a maximum-security psychiatric hospital under a state law that mandates charges be dropped if the defendant cannot stand trial within five years.
The judge emphasized that this did not constitute double jeopardy, meaning the charges could be refiled if Hoggle’s mental state improved.
Return to Legal Proceedings and New Indictment
After Hoggle’s release from the psychiatric facility late last month, prosecutors convened a grand jury, which indicted her for murder in the deaths of Sarah and Jacob. Montgomery Police arrested Hoggle on Friday, and she remains in custody while awaiting trial.
Her defense attorney, David Felsen, has expressed disagreement with the new charges, stating that “nothing has changed” since 2022 and questioning the appropriateness of her detention.
Father’s Statement and Ongoing Search for the Missing Children
The children’s father, Troy Turner, issued a statement expressing his family’s ongoing commitment to justice for Sarah and Jacob. He asked for privacy as they continue to search for their children while working closely with authorities.
“We are following the latest developments closely and continue to work with authorities to seek justice for Sarah and Jacob. We ask that you please respect our privacy as we continue to rebuild our lives while continuing to search for our babies,” Turner’s statement read.
The search for Sarah and Jacob continues as authorities remain committed to resolving the case and bringing closure to their family. Anyone with information about the missing children is urged to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County.
