The trial of Catherine Hoggle, a Montgomery County mother charged with the murders of her two children, has been postponed until 2027. Originally set to begin on October 19, the trial is now scheduled to take place between October 4 and November 5 of that year, as reported by NBC4.
Hoggle faces two counts of murder related to the disappearance of her children, Sarah and Jacob, who were last seen in her care in September 2014. At the time of their disappearance, Sarah was just 3 years old and Jacob was 2. Their remains have never been located.
The delay in the trial stems from Hoggle’s defense team, which plans to argue that she was not criminally responsible for her actions due to a mental disorder. They contend that she could not comprehend the criminality of her actions or adhere to the law at the time of the alleged offenses. This defense aligns with Maryland’s version of an insanity plea.
In response, prosecutors intend to have medical professionals assess Hoggle’s mental state. Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy has previously expressed concern that the not criminally responsible plea could complicate the trial process and noted that further delays are challenging for the family of Sarah and Jacob.
Initially, Hoggle faced charges of child neglect, obstruction of justice, and child abduction before murder charges were introduced in 2017. Those charges were dismissed after she was found incompetent to stand trial multiple times. However, in 2025, she was indicted again on two counts of first-degree murder after a judge determined she was competent to face trial. Hoggle was taken into custody in August 2025 following her discharge from Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, where she had been held for several years.
