WASHINGTON –The search continued Sunday for the two Hoggle children who were taken by their mother nearly seven weeks ago. Now their father says, she’s broken her silence.

Troy Turner told WTOP that his common-law wife, Catherine Hoggle, called him from the mental health facility where she is being held on abduction charges.

“The conversation started with her asking me what I’ve been up to, when am I going to come see her – like nothing was going on. And I explained, ‘I’m just looking for my kids.’ She said they are with someone, I don’t need to worry about them, and they are OK.”

Two-year-old Jacob and three-year-old Sarah went missing in September after Catherine lied about taking them to various locations. Initially, Hoggle and the kids disappeared separately but she was found four days later. She was previously diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and has refused to tell police where the children are. Searches all over Montgomery County have not turned up any evidence about the children’s whereabouts. Montgomery County prosecutors are building a homicide case against her.

According to Turner, Hoggle says she has a way of checking on the kids. Turner says he can’t give up hope that they are still alive. “I have no choice. If I want to get my kids back, I have to (have hope).”

He is trying to visit Hoggle at the psychiatric facility to get more answers.

Hoggle is scheduled for a court hearing on November 6.