MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Catherine Hoggle is accused of killing her own two kids, 2-year-old Jacob and 3-year-old Sarah, more than eight years ago after they disappeared from their Montgomery County home in 2014.
She was the last person to see the children and has been confined to a mental hospital since their disappearance in Sept. of 2014.
After dismissing the charges and finding Hoggle incompetent to stand trial two years ago, Judge James A. Bonifant committed Hoggle to a secure Maryland state hospital saying she remains a danger to herself and others.
Over the past decade, the Montgomery County Court System has repeatedly decided Hoggle was not mentally competent to stand trial. She was first found incompetent in 2015, after she was charged with child abduction. Those misdemeanor charges were later dismissed.
According to Maryland law, a person found incompetent can only be held for three years on a misdemeanor.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said in 2022 that he would recharge Catherine Hoggle with murder if she is ever released from the hospital.
"As long as I'm State's Attorney, it would be my intent, that if she is judged to be safe to be returned to the community, the circumstances would be such that we would recharge her even if we have to revisit the issue of competency again," McCarthy said at the time.
Hoggle suffers from schizophrenia and several other mental disorders, according to medical reports submitted in the case.
Hoggle's attorney, David Felsen, said the medical evidence showed Hoggle has been "profoundly" mentally ill for more than a decade.
"She has taken medications of last resort for years, and she remains ill," Felsen said. "In the United States and in the state of Maryland we don't try people for any crime if they can't defend themselves."
Hoggle's condition will be monitored by the court system every six months indefinitely.
Sarah and Jacob's bodies have never been found. Their father, Troy Turner, has said he will not give up trying to find the kids and bring them home.
The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children released new age-progression photos to make 10 years since the kids disappeared.
If you have any information about the Hoggle children, please call NCMEC at 1-800-843-5688 or Montgomery County Police at 301-279-8000.