Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON – The mother of two missing Montgomery County children is once again deemed incompetent to stand trail during a hearing in Montgomery County District Court.
“The doctors believe that she is restorable to competency, and they recommended that she be held because they still consider her to be dangerous,” said Catherine Hoggle’s defense attorney David Felsen.
Hoggle, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, has been deemed incompetent to stand trial a number of times since she was detained in September 2014 after her 3-year-old daughter Sarah and 2-year-old son Jacob disappeared. She was the last person seen with the children and has been charged with abduction, neglect, and hindering an investigation, which are all misdemeanors.
Since being detained Hoggle has been under observation by doctors at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center. Felsen wouldn’t say what her treatment entails, but said she’s doing everything the doctors are asking her to do.
Felsen wouldn’t say whether he thinks his client will ever be competent enough to stand trial but added the hearings won’t be held indefinitely. Since Hoggle is charged with misdemeanors, the law allows the competency evaluations to continue for three years
“It will not go on forever, but when there is a determination that someone is restorable, then it continues at least that period of time, and then it’s really up to the state’s attorneys to determine how they wish to proceeded with the case,” Felsen said
The case has been harrowing for the children’s father, Troy Turner. Monday was Jacob’s birthday. “Instead of celebrating a birthday, I’m just praying they’re alive,” Turner wrote on Facebook
Hoggle will be back in court for another status update Aug. 31. (Photo: Montgomery County Police)
