The father of two missing Maryland toddlers has teamed up with the Maryland Missing Person's Network in an effort to locate his young children.
Montgomery County police have searched thousands of acres of land this week in the search for 2-year-old Jacob and 3-year-old Sarah. Their mother, Catherine Hoggle, has yet to reveal the exact location of her two children, telling police she gave them to a friend before changing her story. Jacob was last seen Sept. 7 and Sarah was last seen the following day.
Hoggle said the two were "alive and safe," but police have transitioned to a homicide investigation based on the amount of time the children have been gone and the 15-hour interrogation of the Montgomery County mom.
The children's dad, Troy Turner, told News4 he's confident Sarah and Jacob are alive, and that Hoggle is incapable of harming them. All week, he's been searching for the kids along with friends and co-workers, and Friday, he launched a new search with the help of Maryland Missing Person's Network.
"[I'll keep looking for them until] someone turns my kids in or I kick down a door and go get them," he said. "Whatever reality she's formed, she feels like she's protecting the children by hiding them."
Montgomery County police say they have reviewed the group's plan to make sure that it is safe and as effective as possible. While police say they do not endorse the community search, the department is providing some guidance and expertise.
A member of the police search team will act as a liaison, or direct link, for the community search group.
Volunteers should meet at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown starting 8:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mornings. They can also go the Chick-Fil-A on Aircraft Drive in Germantown.
