Volunteer Search Groups Needed to Find Missing Toddlers

Family members of two Montgomery County toddlers missing for 10 weeks are asking civic organizations, church groups, sororities and fraternities and residents to turn out to search the area this weekend.

In a new post on the FindJacobandSarah Facebook page, the community is asked to donate time to help bring the siblings home.

Family members and police have failed over the past two months to persuade Catherine Hoggle to divulge the location of her two youngest children, Jacob Hoggle, 2, and Sarah Hoggle, 3.

According to Montgomery County authorities, Hoggle is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic. She maintains the children are safe, but won’t tell their father, her parents or authorities where she left the toddlers.

As a result, the Clarksburg mother faces three misdemeanor charges -- detaining a child, neglect of a minor and obstructing and hindering. Montgomery County Police have said they are shifting the Hoggle case to a homicide investigation.

The public is asked to turn out Sunday to help with a grid search for the children. Organizers said, “Please don’t feel you need to donate your entire weekend – an hour of your time is welcome Any and all help is welcome!”

In a recent interview with The Washington Post, Catherine’s mother, Lindsey Hoggle of Gaithersburg, says she has begged her troubled daughter to share the children’s whereabouts.

“I’m trying to do the right thing,” Catherine replied, says the newspaper.

The father of the two missing children, Troy Turner, believe his children are still alive.

In court Nov. 7, it was revealed Hoggle, 27, reportedly told her mother and Turner she could take police to the children, according to NBC Washington.

The judge at the hearing would not sign an order for Hoggle’s release from a state psychiatric hospital to go with the police, saying he does not think she is competent. Hoggle reportedly changed her mind about collaborating with police when she arrived in court.

In a new message from Lindsey Hoggle posted on the Facebook page Wednesday, she lists three ways the community can help find grandchildren.

• Pray for the safe return of Sarah and Jacob/Catherine’s health
• Share Sarah and Jacob’s photos far and wide: Public awareness and Aaction brought us Catherine, we need the same for Sarah and Jacob.
• Donations for awareness, searches and printing expenses can be made at “donate” link on www.findsarahfindjacob.com.”

Volunteer searchers can meet at the Germantown Community Center, 18905 Kingsview Road in Germantown on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., say organizers.

Jacob was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue shorts. Sarah was last seen wearing a pink tank top and blue shorts. Jacob is 3 feet tall and weighs 25 pounds. Sarah is 3 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 40 pounds. Since it’s been over 10 weeks since the children were last seen, their appearances may have been changed.

Timeline of Events

On Sept. 7, Catherine Hoggle borrowed her father’s gray 2012 Nissan Rogue SUV and said she was picking up pizza for Jacob. She returned three hours later without the boy or pizza and told her parents she had left Jacob at a playmate’s house.

On Sept. 8, Hoggle left home with Sarah and told Turner she was taking the child to a day-care center. That afternoon when Turner asked about the children’s whereabouts, Hoggle would not tell him where the children were. Both Hoggle and Turner set off for the police station, but stopped at a Chick-Fil-A near the Germantown Transit Center where Hoggle left the restaurant without Turner noticing and disappeared. On Sept. 12, Hoggle was found and arrested in Germantown.

A Go Fund Me account has been established to create a reward in the case and had $2,892 in the account Tuesday.

Montgomery County Police ask anyone with information about the Hoggle children to call 240-773-5070.

»Missing 2-year-old Jacob Hoggle and 3 year-old Sarah Hoggle, courtesy of FindJacobandSarah Facebook page

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