Judge Drops Murder Charges Against Mother Of 2 Missing Kids

She remains mentally unfit to stand trial nearly five years after she was first found incompetent

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — A judge has dropped murder charges against a Maryland woman stemming from the 2014 disappearance of her two youngest children after finding that she remains mentally unfit to stand trial nearly five years after she was first found incompetent. Catherine Hoggle’s children, 3-year-old Sarah and 2-year-old Jacob, were last seen in their mother’s care and were never found. In 2017, Hoggle was charged with murder and found incompetent to stand trial. Under state law, if she isn’t restored to competence in five years, charges must be dismissed. News outlets report that Circuit Judge James Bonifant dismissed both murder counts Wednesday and ordered Hoggle involuntarily committed. If she’s released, State’s Attorney John McCarthy says he’s prepared to charge her again.