Dramatic arrest in disappearance of two young siblings who vanished in 2014 'after mom dropped them off'
Catherine Hoggle, 38, was the last person seen with her children Jacob, 2, and Sarah, 3, before they went missing in Maryland in September 2014.
She told investigators that she dropped the youngsters off at daycare or left them with friends, but Sarah and Jacob were never found.
Hoggle was initially charged in the children's deaths years ago, but the case was delayed after she was found to incompetent to stand trial.
She was committed to a psychiatric facility and finally released just last month.
Prosecutors have now reindicted her, with Hoggle now facing two counts of first-degree murder.
She was arrested and has been held in custody in Montgomery County since last Friday.
Hoggle is scheduled to appear in court today at 1:30pm but her lawyer still claims she is not fit to stand trial.
Her defense attorney told Fox News that he plans to challenge both her detention and the indictment.
'Ms. Hoggle was held for eight years having been judicially determined to be incompetent. Every doctor found that, every doctor agreed with that. Nothing's changed,' her lawyer David Felsen told the news outlet.
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Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
BMW driver, 23, accused of mowing down four sorority sisters in horror Malibu crash hires hot-shot defense lawyer for murder trial
The young BMW driver accused of mowing down and killing four sorority sisters in a horrific Malibu car crash pleaded not guilty as he appeared in court with his new hot-shot defense attorney Wednesday. Fraser Bohm, 23, was arraigned on murder and vehicular manslaughter charges in connection with the October 2023 deaths of Pepperdine University students Asha Weir, Peyton Stewart, Deslyn Williams, all 21, and 20-year-old Niamh Rolston. Dressed in a dark gray suit and tie, he did not speak as his new lawyer, Alan Jackson, entered the not-guilty pleas to four counts each of charge on his behalf at a courthouse in Van Nuys, California. The hearing lasted only a few minutes, during which Judge Thomas Rubinson granted the defense's request for a postponement to September 5. Wednesday's arraignment follows a delay granted last month, when newly-hired Jackson requested a continuance. Outside the courtroom, Jackson explained that he plans to raise 'several issues' at the next hearing, including filing a motion to reduce Bohm's $4million bail package that was granted after his arrest in 2023. Asked when he expects Bohm's jury trial to start, the renowned lawyer told Daily Mail: 'The prosecution has a head start on us and we have a lot of work to do to catch up. So I can't see trial starting before the end of 2025.' The prominent criminal defense attorney, who replaces Bohm's original lawyer Michael Kraut, is a former LA County Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted several high-profile cases, including the murder conviction of music producer Phil Spector. Since going into private practice, he's made a name for himself as a top defense attorney. Most recently, he successfully got murder suspect Karen Read acquitted in the widely-covered trial related to the death of Boston Police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe. All four of the young women killed in the Malibu crash were seniors at Pepperdine's Seaver College of Liberal Arts where they were members of the Alpha Phi Sorority. They were due to graduate with the class of 2024 and later were awarded their Pepperdine degrees posthumously. They died when Bohm – driving allegedly at 104mph – crashed into three parked vehicles in the parking lane next to where the girls were walking after getting out of a car on PCH where the speed limit is 45mph. 'They were killed because of the driving of the defendant,' Deputy District Attorney Nathan Bartos told an April preliminary hearing where Bohm was ordered to stand trial. Bartos pointed out that data retrieved from the 'black box' in the BMW showed that the vehicle accelerated from 93mph to 104mph just two and a half seconds before the crash. 'He consciously decided to get that vehicle up to the speed of 104 miles an hour,' the prosecutor added. 'And he lost control of his vehicle….. This was not an accident.' Peyton Stewart (left) and Asha Weir were members of Alpha Phi at Pepperdine University - and were pronounced dead alongside their two friends at the scene Bohm – who lives in Malibu – has maintained that the deadly crash was an accident that happened when 'some guy' in a white car swerved into his lane, hitting his driver's side mirror, causing him to slam into the three parked cars. And his then defense attorney, Kraut, argued that at the time of the crash, Bohm was being 'chased in a road-rage incident'. But LA Sheriff's investigators said they found 'no evidence of an alleged road-rage incident.' At the preliminary hearing, Kraut called Bohm a 'kid', emphasizing that the fatal pile-up occurred on the day after his 22nd birthday and there was 'no evidence of a past history of any driving violations or a parking violation.' The deadly crash sparked outrage from Malibu residents who have for years been calling for safety improvements to this stretch of PCH between Carbon Canyon and Las Flores Canyon where 53 deaths and 92 serious injuries between 2013 and 2023 earned it the nickname 'Dead Man's Curve.' On the one-year anniversary of the girls' deaths, Malibu officials met to discuss ways to improve safety and creating a California Highway Patrol Task Force to crack down on speeders and traffic offenders on PCH And recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new bill authorizing the installation of speed cameras on a 21-mile stretch of PCH all the way through the ritzy, celebrity-filled enclave. The city has also been considering an even more ambitious plan that would completely redesign PCH, 'transforming it from a high speed highway into a safer, community-focused corridor, providing safe access for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.' Such safety measures come too late for the grieving parents of the victims. They have all brought wrongful death lawsuits against Bohm and are also suing the State of California, LA County, the City of Malibu and the California Coastal Commission, alleging dangerous road design on PCH and lack of safety standards. Bohm, whose father Chris is an executive at a medical equipment manufacturer, had appeared in court for his arraignment hearing last month – his first court date since he was ordered to stand trial after a three-day preliminary trial in late April. The former high school athlete, however, did not enter an official plea after his lawyer requested more time. Daily Mail previously revealed that Bohm had received the luxury vehicle in his parents' divorce settlement on his 18th birthday. The red 2016 BMW was purchased by Bohm's mother Brooke using a down payment of $25,000 in 2017 – with the remaining installments paid by his dad Chris. The divorce settlement also revealed details of his family's lavish lifestyle – including the secluded $8.7 million Malibu gated estate Bohm's mother ended up with in the divorce. His BMW slammed into parked vehicles while the college seniors stood nearby – striking them as well. All four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while Bohm was uninjured. Following the crash, as ambulances took the women's dead bodies from the scene, Bohm was seen sitting on a ledge, bowing his head, next to emergency personnel. According to witnesses, he had attempted to flee the scene and had to be 'tackled down' and stopped by students from the nearby Pepperdine Sigma Chi fraternity. Officials said there was a fraternity party being held in the area, and that the victims had been planning to meet up with others at the time of the tragedy. Niamh, Asha, and Peyton all lived together in college, their social media pages suggested.
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
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Woke Seattle lawmaker leaps ahead in election battle despite claims she's a massive bully
A left-winged Seattle councilwoman has taken the lead in initial primary election polls despite a history of bullying allegations, which she denies. Carmen Rivera, who was appointed as Renton's first openly queer councilmember in 2021, is headed for November's general election, where she will run for her position once again. While official results from Tuesday's primary have not been released, unofficial stats from Kings County show Rivera ahead of her two opponents with about 44 percent of the vote. Washington is a mail-in ballot state and the final verdict will be announced on August 19, but the last day to vote was Tuesday. The top two candidates for each seat advance to the general election. 'Looking at the numbers, I'd be very surprised if Rivera did not make it to the general election,' King County Elections Communications Manager Halei Watkins told the Daily Mail. Watkins did note there are 'still a lot of ballots to count,' but it is likely Rivera will at the very least remain in the top two. Rivera's candidacy has been shrouded in controversy, with accusers coming forward with unflattering anecdotes about the allegedly short-fused politician. The progressive lawmaker's controversies trace back to October 2021, just before she was elected to the city council. She worked as a volunteer security guard at a Seattle Pride concert, where some performers claimed she was wildly disrespectful in a letter to event leadership. The note asserted that Rivera worked in a manner that was 'hostile, confrontational, and bordering harassment' while guarding the backstage area. The artists collection alleged that Rivera ignored several of the performers and even tried to block some of them from entering the backstage area. 'Security ran towards and physically blocked a black trans woman from one of our performers' houses who was being walked into the backstage area by a collective member, yelling at her that she could not be there,' the letter alleged. Rivera also allegedly threatened to kick people who had taken down their face masks just to eat or drink out of the event, according to the affected artists. At the same Pride event a year later, the then-director Krystal Marx said an employee made similar claims against Rivera. Rivera was serving on the event's board and has fiercely denied these claims to Axios Seattle. She then left the board, blaming Marx's 'unprofessional behavior.' Marx was let go about a month after Rivera left, but said Rivera's claim was false. About a year into her council tenure, Rivera found herself at the center of a claim of vicious behavior documented in a letter written to police. Renton City Councilmember Kim-Khán Văn contacted local authorities about Rivera in a jaw-dropping email from December 2022. Văn described a year's worth of 'harassment and bullying' inflicted by her colleague Rivera. In light of the police report resurfacing, Rivera's partner, Jas Maisonet, spoke out on her behalf on Facebook She was requesting video footage from an event because she was 'harassed and verbally attacked by sitting Councilmember Carmen Rivera in public again.' Văn notified police, but did not file an official report. Afterwards she told the city's human resources department about her alleged run-ins with Rivera. Văn later claimed to Axios that Rivera got up in her face and started cursing at her during the event for several minutes straight. A month prior to the heated encounter Văn claimed Rivera tried physically stopping her from entering a meeting by placing herself between Văn and the door. Rivera fiercely disputed these accusations, telling Axios she 'was not yelling at her' and 'definitely did not curse at her.' In response to Văn's concerns, Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone issued a notice to the city council in January 2023. 'Councilmembers are not administrative employees subject to my supervision or control as the Mayor,' Pavone wrote. 'Currently, the Council has no formal process for receiving and addressing complaints of personal conflicts between councilmembers.' While admitting he could not intervene, he suggested adapting conduct codes regarding councilmember behavior. Aside from Văn, Axios reported other anonymous witnesses confessed to having similar experiences with Rivera. But Rivera claimed all of these accusations are baseless and at least one of the people who came forward had actually been bullying her - not the other way around. Her campaign consultant, Michael Charles, told Axios the accusations were 'politically motivated retaliation for her support of progressive policies. Concerns about Rivera have been raised as recently as June, with Winter Cashman, a King county candidate for the Public Hospital Commission, writing a bombshell letter to the editor in the Renton Reporter. 'When Carmen Rivera first ran for Renton City Council, I supported her. I believed in the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in our local government, and I hoped she'd bring both lived experience and a collaborative spirit to the role,' he began. 'But since that time, I've seen a continued pattern that's hard to ignore — and I can't support her re-election.' Cashman claimed Rivera 'escalated tensions' between candidates and had even accused people who supported her of 'undermining' her. He also claimed she once said 'all straight people are transphobic' and called him 'a little sh*t.' Rivera told the Daily Mail Cashman's claims 'came out of nowhere' and she had no previous relationship with him. 'I would say they are targeted, political attacks,' she continued. 'Including false claims and unverified complaints rooted in distortion.' Allegations of Rivera's outbursts began long before her political debut, according court records. In 2016, she was arrested and charged with malicious mischief in the third-degree domestic violence following a fight with her ex. Her ex claimed she was in the car when Rivera started kicking in and tore off one of its mirrors. She told Axios she was 'not in the best place personally at the time.' The case was eventually dismissed, the outlet reported. In light of the police report resurfacing, Rivera's current partner, Jas Maisonet, spoke out on her behalf on Facebook. 'Recently, and conveniently timed, a decade old, resolved police report was dragged up and used as a weapon,' Maisonet wrote. 'Behind every council seat is a real person. And behind that person is often a family that carries the emotional weight of public service quietly. 'Leadership isn't about being perfect; no one is. It's about showing up with integrity, listening, learning, and doing the work.' Rivera has used her social media platforms to promote her stances, as well as call out those who have spoken out against her. In a video from March, Rivera addressed 'right-wing basement bloggers' who decided to 'come after' her for supporting a trans Linwood City councilmember. Rivera claimed people calling her out were being transphobic and bigoted Although she is not explicitly named in the clip Rivera is likely speaking about Jessica Roberts, who came under fire around the same time when it became publicly known she was posting on Only Fans. Roberts admitted to the Lynnwood Times that she had made an Only Fans account to boost her self confidence while 'making a little cash on the side.' Soon after the news went public, she took down the account. She also allegedly had a Reddit account where she shared dark and explicit sexual content. Roberts resigned from her position amid the controversy. Rivera had voiced support for Roberts, calling a Lynwood Times report of Roberts' alleged online activity a 'grossly intentional misrepresentation of information.' She also said all the comments about Robert were 'ignorant and hateful.' 'When history looks back on these Nazi driven narratives, what will you say you did?' she wrote on X. Rivera told the Daily Mail she spoke out online because attacks on Roberts were 'rooted in ignorance and hatred.' 'Many women, including Jessica, have to deal with unfair standards and double standards. 'I would do that [speak out] for many women in the LGBTQI+ community in these positions who are being publicly filleted.' Rivera took the lead against her opponents for Council Position No 2, Mary Clymer, who accounted for roughly 29 percent of votes, and Raman Mann, who took about 26 percent. 'I'm really grateful that the voters can look past some of the distracting noise and see real leaders doing really good work,' Rivera told the Daily Mail. She and Clymer will compete for the seat in the general election in November, meaning there is still a chance she could be booted from her position. In Washington state, councilmembers do not run with political affiliations, although Rivera's stances are progressive.
The Guardian
20 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Calls for clarity over whether UK police can release suspects' ethnicity and immigration status
Yvette Cooper is facing demands for clarity over the information that police forces are permitted to release to the public after claims of a 'cover-up' by the authorities over the immigration status of men accused of raping a child. The Warwickshire police and crime commissioner, Philip Seccombe, called for fresh national guidance after police were accused by Reform UK of failing to confirm that two Afghan men being prosecuted for the alleged attack on a 12-year-old girl were asylum seekers. There is increasing pressure on prosecutors and the police to release details about the ethnicity and immigration status of people facing a criminal charge. Cooper, the home secretary, said on Tuesday that the guidance should change to permit police to release the ethnicity or immigration status of criminal suspects but added that she was waiting for a review to be concluded by the Law Commission. Seccombe said: 'Like all forces, Warwickshire police finds itself in a difficult position of trying to carefully balance the legal safeguards which protect the integrity of the judicial process, while maintaining public order and simultaneously ensuring that public confidence is maintained through transparency and honesty. 'Currently police forces are in an invidious position when deciding what can and should be disclosed in sensitive cases, given that the national guidance is silent on both the ethnicity and immigration status of suspects. 'It is very easy to criticise and suggest that the balance of disclosure hasn't been correct, but it is much harder to take these decisions on the ground.' The alleged rape, said to have happened on 22 July, has become the centre of a political storm after the Reform leader, Nigel Farage, on Monday amplified claims of a police cover-up. On Tuesday the leader of Reform-led Warwickshire county council said police were refusing to confirm details of the two suspects charged after the alleged attack in Nuneaton. George Finch, the youngest council leader in England, alleged within days that Ahmad Mulakhil and Mohammad Kabir – the two men charged in the case – were asylum seekers, but police forces do not routinely release the immigration status of suspects. In a letter to Cooper, Finch claimed the police risked 'disorder breaking out on the streets' of the county. Cooper said on Tuesday that 'we do want to see greater transparency' from police forces and she wanted national guidance to change in relation to the release of information about suspects. Mulakhil has been charged with two counts of rape, while Kabir has been charged with kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting of the rape of a girl aged under 13. Both men are in custody and due to appear at Warwick crown court on 26 August. Warwickshire county council's chief executive briefed Finch confidentially about the immigration status of the two men, according to a letter by the force's chief constable, Alex Franklin-Smith. Franklin-Smith said he confirmed to Finch last Thursday that this information was accurate but that 'we wouldn't be releasing immigration status at point of charge as we follow national guidance'. The police chief said he had asked the Home Office to confirm the full immigration status of the two men, given that Finch had released some details publicly. He added: 'I am confident that Warwickshire police has treated this investigation seriously from the outset, working tirelessly to identify, locate, arrest and charge those suspected of being responsible for this awful crime as quickly as possible.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'As the home secretary said yesterday, it has been widely reported that this case involves two Afghan individuals who are in the asylum system, some of which information has already been confirmed in open court. 'The home secretary has made clear that there is a strong public interest in maximum transparency wherever that is possible. 'That is why the Home Office and College of Policing are working together to strengthen and clarify the guidance around how and when information is released.'
