Montgomery County, MD – After nearly a decade of legal delays, Catherine Hoggle, the mother of two toddlers who vanished in 2014, has been reindicted on two counts of first-degree murder, reigniting a painful and long-standing search for justice in one of Maryland’s most haunting missing children cases.
Toddlers Vanished in 2014, Bodies Never Found
Sarah and Jacob Hoggle, just 2 and 3 years old, disappeared in Montgomery County in September 2014. Despite multiple searches, their bodies were never recovered. Hoggle, their mother, was originally charged with their murders, but those charges were dropped after she was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Her attorney claimed in 2022 that her condition was unlikely to improve, effectively placing the case in limbo for years.
Discharged from Mental Facility, Prompting Indictment
Hoggle, who had been living at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup, Maryland, was discharged on July 23. She had previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, according to her mother.
Following her unexpected release, a grand jury returned a new indictment on Thursday, and Hoggle was arrested on Friday in Kent County, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Authorities have not yet clarified why Hoggle was released, a question that has added to the family’s distress and public concern.
Legal Push to Hold Her Accountable
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy had previously told that Catherine Hoggle could be recharged if she were ever released from institutional care — a scenario that has now played out.
Her defense team, however, maintains that she remains under civil commitment and should not be detained again.
“We do not believe her detention is proper or appropriate legally. Nothing has changed since 2022,” her attorney said in a statement.
Father Vows to Continue Fight for His Children
The children’s father, Troy Turner, has led a decade-long crusade to keep their memory alive and demand justice.
“My job as my children’s father is to believe in my kids, believe in myself and go find them — period. And that’s what we’re going to do,” he said in an emotional statement.
The Turner family issued a joint message expressing their ongoing hope for justice and closure, though the legal process remains uncertain.
Next Court Appearance Pending
Catherine Hoggle now faces two counts of first-degree murder, and a bond review hearing has been scheduled. It remains unclear whether the court will determine her competent to stand trial, a pivotal decision that could finally bring the case before a jury after more than 10 years of waiting.
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