Missing Clarksburg Children’s Family Needs More Volunteers for Search - Reporting From Gaithersburg 4

By Elvan Katmer

Monday, October 13, 2014

Missing Children’s Family Needs More Volunteers for Search

 

Volunteers are still needed in the search for two Clarksburg children since Sept. 7.

Search leaders discussing next briefing while one
volunteer is waiting for assignment.

Jacob Hoggle, 2, and Sarah Hoggle, 3, went missing at separate times along with their mother who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

A volunteer community search was conducted in Germantown, Darnestown, Clarksburg and Damascus this weekend. Volunteers met at Germantown Community Recreation Center and were given briefings and directions to areas by the leaders.

Search leaders share information only with the police about the areas they search, briefings they provide to the volunteers, and residential areas they visit distributing fliers.

“They are trying to make sure details stay constant,” said volunteer Vicki Smith.



Volunteers search in group sand each group return to community center once they cover the given area. Areas include woods, tree-houses, homeless camps, abandoned properties or open fields.

Each area takes two to four hours depending on the size and field conditions.  Some groups are assigned for field search while others are visiting communities handing out fliers.

The search leader, who is also missing children’s aunt, Raelane Turner said they need more volunteers.

“We need to get people out there searching woods, and we need to get people doing fliers,” she said.
According to Turner,  family members did not realize their children’s disappearance because their mother, Catherine Hoggle, 27, said Jacob was at a sleepover on Sept. 7 and she said she took them both to a daycare once their father asked about Sarah on Sept. 8. She claimed she did not remember where the daycare was when she and Troy Turner, children’s father, drove off to pick them up. She went missing getting off the car while they were looking for the daycare, when Troy mentioned going to the police.
Searches conducted since their disappearance by Montgomery County Police and volunteers. Catherine Hoggle, 27, was found in Germantown Sept. 12 and arrested. She has not told the police where the children are or what happened to them.

Volunteer Luis Somarriba said they are there to help the family find their children. According to Raelane Turner, there were 40 volunteers on Saturday and less on Sunday even though there had been more people in their earlier searches.

Neither Turner nor volunteers reveal much feeling about Catherine Hoggle’s not speaking out.

Lorite Burns one of the earliest volunteers said the family members were more realistic today, the aunt mentioned they are at least looking for a recovery. She said searchers share anything they find notable with search leaders, who pass them on to Police.

“Police are doing their own thing. But, this is not a police-run thing right now,” she said.

The volunteer search is being assisted by KlaasKIDS foundation, a national organization dedicated to stopping crimes against children. The group sent a GPS system, provided maps and helped better organize the search.

“I wish we had known about them the first week,” said Turner.

Family members believe the children are with someone who does not realize they are missing. They hope that the fliers will help someone recognize the children the next time they are taken out in public.

But one frustration they have is that many people mistakenly think the children were with their mother when Hoggle was found.

“Some people think that the children are safe, so everyone is not looking out,” said Turner.

Searches will continue until children are found. Next weekend volunteers will meet at Germantown Community Recreation Center on Saturday and Sunday, Oct.18 and 19, between 9 a.m. andp.m.Turner said people can reach her texting 301-538-9372 during the week if they want to volunteer.

The family is offering a $25,000 reward for tips that will lead to Jacob and Sarah’s safe return.They set up a website to announce details and accept donations for searches http://findsarahfindjacob.com/.

 

Update: The children are still missing. 12/22/2014