Judge sets trial date for Catherine Hoggle, accused of murdering her children more than a decade ago

The trial of Catherine Hoggle, accused of murdering her children 12 years ago, will begin more than a year from now, a Montgomery County Circuit Court judge said Wednesday.

Judge Karla Smith said Hoggle will be tried on murder charges. If she is found guilty, the jury may determine whether she is “not criminally responsible” — Maryland’s version of an insanity plea — for the deaths of Sarah and Jacob, who were 3 and 2, respectively, when they disappeared.

The case has long fueled speculation about Hoggle’s mental state and the whereabouts of the children, whose bodies were never found.

Hoggle appeared in court Wednesday, shackled at her wrists and legs. Smith scheduled her trial for Oct. 4-Nov. 5, 2027.

Hoggle, 39, was living in Clarksburg with her children at the time of their disappearance and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Montgomery County Police have said.

She was released from a psychiatric hospital a little more than a year ago.

Hoggle’s former boyfriend, Troy Turner, on Sept. 8, 2014, reported that she and two of their three children — Jacob and Sarah — were missing, according to court documents from that time.

Hoggle had told Turner she had dropped off the children to try a new daycare and they were there, according to court records. Hoggle and Turner had lived together in Clarksburg and had an older child together, Clint.

Turner then drove Hoggle to a treatment center, where she was getting therapy.

A witness at the center told police, court documents said, that while they discussed a stress management class, Hoggle — before the children were reported missing — told the witness, “Oh, that’s ironic — I just strangled my kids.” Hoggle made a strangulation gesture with her hands and then said “just joking.”

The children were last seen on Sept. 7, 2014.

Turner then picked up Hoggle from the treatment center, and they drove around Germantown and Gaithersburg for hours as Hoggle pointed out daycare centers and said she didn’t remember where she left her children, according to court records.

Turner then lost sight of Hoggle.

Hoggle apparently had entered a Department of Energy building in Germantown and spent the night at the facility.

Police said they conducted an extensive search for the children and Hoggle, for whom an arrest warrant was issued.

She cut her hair and attempted to run away from officers but was arrested on Sept. 13.

Hoggle was initially charged with child neglect and parental abduction, according to court records. A judge found her incompetent to stand trial, citing mental health issues. The court committed her to a psychiatric facility, police said

A Montgomery County grand jury indicted her on two counts of murder in September 2017. She again was found not competent to stand trial.

In November 2022, the murder charges were dismissed and she was again committed to a psychiatric hospital.

In July 2025, she was released from Maryland’s Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup.

A grand jury indicted her the following month on two counts of first-degree murder, according to police.