Judge Sets New Court Date for Catherine Hoggle (PHOTOS & VIDEO)
Dressed in a black blazer, pink blouse, black slacks and blue loafers with her long hair pinned back, Catherine Hoggle appeared in front of Judge James Sarsfield on Sept. 18 in a Rockville courtroom.
Hoggle is the last known person to have seen her children, Sarah (4) and Jacob (3), who have been missing from Clarksburg for over one year now.
Hoggle is being treated for mental health issues at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital and police and family members say she refuses to say where she left her children. She faces charges of neglect, hindering and obstruction in this case.
Her defense attorney is David Felsen. According to Felsen, the latest medical report indicates his client remains incompetent to stand trial.
During the court hearing, Judge Sarsfield asked Hoggle, who was handcuffed, if she knew why she was in court and how she felt. Hoggle told the judge she was doing well as she listed the charges against her. “I think I am competent,” she told the judge, noting that she was taking her medicine, exercising and participating in ward activities.
Because of the medical report, Judge Sarsfield said he would postpone the case until Nov. 23. He urged Hoggle to continue treatment so the charges against her could go forward.
Outside the courtrooom, Catherine Hoggle’s mother Lindsey said she thought her daughter looked much better than her last court appearance. She was also shocked by the ruling. “I was very hopeful. She wants to be competent,” said Lindsey Hoggle who talks to Catherine almost every day.
“We want to get to the truth,” she said. “I am confused on the understanding of competency.”
“She has made remarkable progress,” continued Lindsey Hoggle. “I think we are very close. I am a little shocked at the ruling…it’s the best interest of everyone that we find Sarah and Jacob.”
Troy Turner, the father of Sarah and Jacob, said he was not surprised by the ruling.
“I learned a long time ago not to listen to anything Catherine says,” Turner said outside the courthouse.
Felsen said he understands the family wants the case to go forward but he said the legal team must proceed by the legal process, which means Hoggle must not only be able to communicate with her attorneys but she must be able to understand and process the information presented in her legal case. When asked about his client’s competency, Felsen said: “I leave those evaluations to the doctors.”
Catherine Hoggle is due back in in court on Nov. 23.
is it legally possible to get a 2nd opinion of catherine’s competency to stand tria?; can the psychiatrists opinion be challenged by the prosecution?
I AM AWARE THAT hIpa LAWS ARE PROTECTING THIS MOTHER WHILE SHE IS COMMITTED TO A MENTAL hOSPITAL. CAN’T THEY GIVE HER A DRUG TO MAKER HER TALK ? i KNOW IT SOUNDS ARCHAIC BUT IT WORKED FOR THE GUYS COMING BACK FROM WARS. hAS SHE EVER HAD NARCACISSTIC OR PATHOLOGICAL BEHAVIORS THAT WOULD QUESTION HER AS A FIT MOTHER PRIOR TO THESE KIDS
GOING MISSING? if SHE TURNED THEM OVER TO SOMEONE SHE WOULD HAVE HAD TO TRUST THEM TO
SOME DEGREE. whO WERE HER FRIENDS. ? sHE HAD BIPOLAR ISSUES INITIALLY BUT THEN WHEN SHE WENT
OFF THE DEEP END, IT IS PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA. iF SHE WAS OFF HER MEDS, AND DROVE THE KIDS IN
A CAR , DIDN’T SOMEONE THINK red flag HERE? diD SHE HAVE A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. iF NOT SHE HAD
NO BUSINESS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR. mANY BIPOLAR PEOPLE HAVE FEW FRIENDS WHEN THEY ARE OFF
MEDS. sO i SURE HOPE THEY CHECKED OUT WHO SHE SPOKE TO PRIOR TO KIDS MISSING. aND DID THEY CHECK
HER CELL PHONE RECORDS. sHE WAS PROBABLY SEETHING AT ALL THAT CARED ABOUT HER MOST WHEN SHE
LEFT THE RESTAURANT (CAUGHT ON CAMERA).
dID THEY CLOSELY LOOK AT TIME LINE, WHEN SHE LEFT WITH JACOB, WHEN SHE RETURNED. wHEN SHE LEFT THE
NEXT MORNING WITH THE LITTLE GIRL, WHEN SHE RETURNED. hOW DID SHE LOOK? hAS SHE EVER USED RECREATIONAL
DRUGS? sINCE SHE HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED, HAS SHE EVER CRIED FOR HER CHILDREN? iF THE ANSWER IS NO, i
WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THEY ARE STILL ALIVE. sEEMS SHE HAS CONVINCED HER MOTHER THEY ARE.