Attorney for Mom of Missing Toddlers Wants Charges Dropped: Nearby News

Police pressuring a Montgomery County mother to divulge the location of her two missing toddlers questioned the woman without an attorney present and called her a monster, prompting a court filing that asks for charges to be dropped.

Catherine Hoggle, the Clarksburg mother accused in the disappearance of her two children, two children, Jacob, 2 and Sarah, 3, was arrested Sept. 12. She faces three misdemeanor charges -- detaining a child, neglect of a minor and obstructing and hindering. The children have been missing since Sept. 8 despite searches throughout the Germantown area where Hoggle was arrested.

Meanwhile, Hoggle awaits a mental evaluation by the courts at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center. Family members have described her as a paranoid schizophrenic who stopped taking medication. She has reportedly refused to tell the children’s father, Troy Turner, her parents or police where she left the toddlers.

Rockville attorney David Felsen filed the motions Tuesday in the case claiming that police inappropriately interrogated the Clarksburg mother Oct. 1 at the Perkins Hospital Center without the presence of her attorney, reports Montgomery Community Media.

Court documents say the detectives told Hoggle they would allow her to hug her children if she told them where they are and allow Hoggle to spend time with her third child if she shared the location of Sarah and Jacob.

Detectives also reportedly told Hoggle “if the children were no longer alive, Catherine Hoggle would be allowed to attend and assist in the preparations of their funerals,” according to the motion.

The court filing claims the detectives called Hoggle “a monster” during the interrogation and refused to let her speak to her attorney.

Ramon Korionoff, spokesman for the Montgomery County Office of the State’s Attorney, told the county news outlet the office will let its motions in court and in filings speak for themselves.

A Montgomery County Police spokesman declined comment about the allegations.

Children’s Grandmother Says Daughter Not Credible

Lindsey Hoggle, Catherine’s mother, told Montgomery Community Media she has tried to visit her daughter at the Jessup hospital center, but her daughter refused to see her.

In reaction to the motions in the case, Lindsey Hoggle said she “doesn’t put much credibility in the claims she made to her lawyer,” noting her daughter’s mental illness.

“From day one we have dealt with a mix of truths and untruths and conspiracy,” she said. “That is the nature of this illness.”

Lindsey Hoggle said she may apply for legal guardianship of her daughter, which would allow her to make medical decisions for her.

“It is something to consider. I am trying to do what is in her best interest and what is in the best interest of the children.

Turner firmly believes his children are alive and in the county. He has said Catherine Hoggle may have left the youngsters in the care of someone who doesn’t know a search is under way for them.

A FindJacobandSarah Facebook page has been set up to spread awareness of the Hoggle case and organize weekend searches by volunteers. A Go Fund Me account has been established to create a reward in the case and had $2,892 in the account Thursday afternoon.

Related Stories:

• Father Tearfully Pleads for Missing Daughter to come Home
• Father Believes Missing Kids Are Alive; Police Call Case a Homicide
• Residents Asked to Look in Backyards for Missing Kids
• New Charges Against Mom of Missing Toddlers
• Candlelight Vigil Caps Weekend Search for Missing Siblings
• Montgomery County Search Continues for Jacob and Sarah Hoggle
• Search Expert Joins Hunt for Missing Hoggle Siblings