A Maryland woman has been reindicted on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the 2014 disappearances of her young children, 2-year-old Jacob and 3-year-old Sarah, who were last seen on September 7 of that year.
Catherine Hoggle, 38, is facing renewed murder charges, according to her defense attorney, David Felsen, who confirmed the indictment to WTOP. Felsen stated that Hoggle is currently being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyds, Maryland, and that he met with her at the facility on Sunday.
Hoggle was arrested on August 1, 2025, in Kent County after the state was notified that she had been released from the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center on July 23, 2025, according to a news release from the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. A bond review hearing is scheduled for Monday at 1:30 p.m. in Circuit Court.
As of Sunday evening, Maryland’s online case search had not yet been updated to reflect the new charges.
When asked for further comment, Felsen declined, stating only that Hoggle remains under civil commitment as ordered by the court in December 2022.
Second Time Facing Murder Charges
Hoggle was first charged in 2014 with misdemeanor child neglect, followed by additional charges of parental abduction and obstruction. However, she was repeatedly found mentally unfit to stand trial. In 2017, she was formally indicted for the murders of her children.
Despite ongoing efforts to assess her mental competency, Hoggle remained unfit for trial. In November 2022, a judge attempted to determine her ability to participate in her defense, but the proceedings did not address the specifics of the children’s disappearance.
On November 30, 2022, Circuit Court Judge James Bonifant dismissed the murder charges, citing Maryland law, which requires felony charges to be dropped if a defendant is not restored to competency within five years.
In a 2024 interview marking 10 years since Jacob and Sarah went missing, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy expressed continued hope that Hoggle would one day be deemed competent to stand trial.
“There’s frustration in the community and in our office that this case has not gone to trial,” McCarthy said. “But I remain hopeful that, through treatment, she may eventually be fit to face the charges.”
The State’s Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the details of Hoggle’s recent release from the psychiatric facility. Her attorney confirmed she was staying at a medical facility in Kent County as part of her ongoing civil commitment.
Children Still Missing, Investigation Ongoing
The whereabouts of Jacob and Sarah Hoggle remain unknown, and Montgomery County police say the investigation is still active. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County through the “www.p3tips.com” website or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for tips leading to an arrest, and callers may remain anonymous.
