Catherine Hoggle to be Evaluated by New Psychiatrist

Catherine Hoggle, the mother accused of killing two of her children nearly five years ago, has spent most of the time since then at Clifton Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup, a maximum-security psychiatric hospital.

That could change in August.

Based on the hospital’s psychiatric evaluations, judges have ruled Hoggle incompetent to stand trial. Montgomery County Judge Robert Greenberg on Wednesday ordered a second set of eyes to evaluate Hoggle.

Here’s our story:

A few other pieces of information:

• In his ruling from the bench, Greenberg described Hoggle’s thoughts as illogical and her legal strategy irrational — “a manifestation of her schizophrenia.”
• Greenberg also said Hoggle is derailed easily and can’t stay on track. “Counsel reports he cannot effectively communicate with her,” Greenberg said.
• Tellefsen was director of the Perkins Hospital Center from 1992 to 2004. Her stint at the Jessup hospital does not coincide with the time Hoggle was there, McCarthy said.
• Dr. Danielle Robinson has evaluated Hoggle several times. Although she was criticized in a prosecution brief requesting an independent evaluation, Greenberg praised her. He said she was “nonpartisan”and called her evaluations “well-reasoned.”
• The deadline for any other evaluation, Greenberg said, was Aug. 15.
• Wednesday would have been Jacob Turner’s seventh birthday. His sister Sarah would be 8 years old now.

About Douglas Tallman

Reporter with 35 years experience throughout Maryland. Reach me at dtallman@mymcmedia.org or via Twitter at @MCM-Doug

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