Search Continues For Missing Montgomery County Children

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- Family members of two missing toddlers won't give up their search to find the kids even as police say they are investigating the case as a homicide.

Derek Valcourt spoke with investigators and the missing children's aunt.

This has been nine days of agony for the father of these two children. Their mentally ill mother still refuses to say what she did with them.

"They're going to come home," said Raelane Turner.

Turner is trying to keep positive in the face of the heartbreaking reality that her nephew and niece, three-year-old Sarah and two-year-old Jacob, haven't been seen since last weekend.

"We're going to get my kids back," said Troy Turner.

When their father, Troy Turner, began demanding to know where his kids were, their 27-year-old paranoid schizophrenic mother, Catherine Hoggle, took off.

Days later, Montgomery County police found Hoggle without the kids and, after 15 hours of interrogation, she still refused to say what she did with them---only saying that they are safe and together.

For now, Turner and volunteers continue to search through neighborhoods and even going door to door.

Volunteers have distributed thousands of missing persons' flyers. In fact, in some Montgomery County parking lots, they are on every single car.

Investigators have combed 14,000 acres in Montgomery County without a sign of the kids. They're asking for the help of homeowners in the Darnstown and Clarksburg areas.

"A lot of people are asking what they can do so search your own property. Search your own land. You know what belongs there and what doesn't belong there," said Cpl. Rebecca Innocenti.

Though heartbroken, family members say they are clinging to hope and won't give up.

"It doesn't matter how long it is. This will be our life if it has to but I'm hoping and praying that it's not and that they come home shortly," said Raelane Turner.

Police say one tip that the kids were spotted in Baltimore was not verified.

Family members say the children's mother Catherine Hoggle had been voluntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital late last year. They believe she had recently stopped taking her medications.

Hoggle remains in custody on $2 million bail. She's been ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluations.

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