BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (Court TV/AP) — A jury has convicted an East Tennessee mother of murdering her daughter, who was reported missing and later found dead in a trashcan.
FILE – (L) Megan Boswell, (R) Evelyn Mae Boswell (TBI)
Megan Boswell was found guilty of 19 charges in the death of Evelyn Mae Boswell. That same jury recommended a sentence of life in prison with parole eligibility after 51 years. Sentencing is scheduled for May 22.
The toddler, who had not been seen since December 2019, was reported missing in February 2020. Evelyn’s remains were found weeks later in a shed belonging to Megan’s family.
RELATED | Baby Evelyn Murder Trial: Disturbing exhibits and key players
Megan initially told state investigators that her daughter was with the child’s father, who was stationed with the Army in Louisiana, then later said her mother took Evelyn to a campground in Virginia, but authorities found no sign of the girl there.
Megan was charged with false reporting before being charged with more serious offenses, including felony murder, child abuse, child neglect, and abuse of a corpse.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 8 – 2/13/24
- The jury recommends Megan be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 51 years. Sentencing is scheduled for May 22.
- The jury convicts Megan Boswell on all 19 charges, including first-degree murder.
- During the sentencing phase, Megan’s mother, Angela Boswell, testified about the defendant’s upbringing.
- Angela acknowledged that Megan witnessed drug use involving her and her father, primarily with opiates, which resulted in arguments and fighting, contributing to a tumultuous household throughout Megan’s childhood.
- Angela disclosed her own struggles, stating that she had been convicted of numerous crimes and recognized her failure to be a good mother to Megan.
- She expressed regret, stating, “I failed her on that miserably,” but emphasized her belief in Megan’s potential to do better.
- Angela requested a sentence of life with the possibility of parole for Megan, arguing that she had the capacity for change and had learned from Angela’s mistakes.
- She stressed her belief that Megan was trying to improve her life and care for her child.
- When asked about her role as a mother, Angela admitted, “No, she did not have a good role model of a mother,” acknowledging her inability to provide a healthy example for Megan.
- WATCH: ‘I Failed her:’ Megan Boswell’s Mother Pleads for Leniency
- Gail Kyte, Megan’s social worker, described a 17-year-old Megan as neglected, pregnant, scared and malnourished when she arrived. She said the intake papers noted past trauma and rape.
- Kyte testified Megan obtained her high school diploma while in foster care, and Megan was “excited” to become a mother.
- Kyte indicated that Megan had trial visits back to her family and seemed okay with it at first. However, Megan later faced difficulties when her mother dropped her off at a church, prompting Kyte to assist her again.
- Kyte underscored that Megan lacked essential familial support during critical times.
- Kyte urged the jury to consider a life sentence with the possibility of parole, emphasizing that Megan is not irredeemable and deserves a chance to reintegrate into society due to her traumatic experiences and mistakes.
- WATCH: Megan Boswell’s Defense Presents Argument For Parole
DAY 7 – 2/12/24
- State’s final exhibit: Virginia court order relating to Hunter Wood’s court-ordered evaluation and letter confirming his involuntary hospitalization.
- State rests case-in-chief.
- Megan Boswell confirms the will NOT be testifying.
- State delivers closing argument
- Prosecutor begs jury to remember that closing arguments are not evidence, and to keep that in mind when the defense delivers closings.
- Displays a photo that was likely the last taken of Baby Evelyn alive.
- Says one thing stood in the way of Megan and her New Man: Baby Evelyn.
- Megan spends months telling friends and family that Evelyn is with her dad.
- Prosecution: ‘No Proof’ Megan Boswell’s Ex Was involved
- Reminds the jury that Megan referred to her 12-month-old baby as “mean as f—.”
- Says Megan Boswell’s fingerprint is on the foil wrapped around Evelyn’s head.
- Says Megan covered Evelyn’s body, essentially mummified her and tossed her away, literally, with the trash.
- Defense delivers closing argument
- Out of the gate he admits there’s a lot of emotion in this case.
- Questions why Hunter didn’t provide DNA — something to hide perhaps?
- Says Hunter’s confirmed Hunter talked about using tin foil.
- Argues Megan rolled over on the baby, found her dead and got scared — Megan is unsophisticated and afraid of getting in trouble, he says, so Hunter disposes of the body.
- Says she’s a liar but NOT a murderer.
- Says Megan was in denial that Evelyn was dead and that’s why she didn’t tell anyone. It was her way of coping, don’t judge how people grieve.
- State’s rebuttal
- Reiterates that Megan doesn’t know how to tell the truth, she’s a master manipulator.
- Says Megan Boswell only cares about one person, and that’s Megan Boswell. She takes responsibility for nothing.
- Says Megan Boswell is guilty of first-degree murder, false reporting, tampering with evidence, and of failing to report that death to authorities…hold her responsible by finding her guilty as charged.
- Jury begins deliberating.
DAY 6 – 2/11/24
- Megan’s texts and Facebook Messenger messages are displayed/read aloud.
- Knox County Regional Forensic Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, MD, PhD says she formed the opinion that Baby Evelyn died of asphyxia, and the manner of death was homicide.
- Forensic Patholigist Dr. Matrina Schmidt testified that Baby Evelyn’s body was found with leaves in her hair and her head wrapped in tin foil. She said SIDS couldn’t be ruled out with an autopsy, and classified Evelyn’s death as “homicidal violence.”
- WATCH: Megan Boswell’s Fingerprints on Foil Wrapped Around Evelyn’s Head
- WATCH: Forensic Pathologist: Evelyn’s Cause of Death was ‘Homicidal Violence’
- WATCH: Defense Raises Possibility of Baby Evelyn Dying of SIDS
DAY 5 – 2/10/24
- Jury saw Megan Boswell’s police interviews from Feb. 20th and 21st 2020, in which her account changed for the first time to accuse her mother, Angela, of withholding Evelyn since mid-December 2019 in exchange for a payout.
- Two detectives testified they found no evidence to corroborate the allegation and cleared Angela of involvement in Evelyn’s disappearance.
- Megan said she didn’t tell police sooner because she had left Evelyn in her mother’s care while she was working and thought Evelyn was fine. When her mother refused to give her back unless Megan repaid her an alleged debt, Megan grew to fear Angela would flee with Evelyn or harm her.
- As detectives pressed Megan on how she went from being a caring mother to skipping pediatrician visits and not seeing her daughter for more than a month, Megan stood firm in her claim that she had nothing to do with Evelyn’s disappearance, did not know where Evelyn was, and insisted that with the disclosure of her mother’s alleged involvement she was no longer hiding anything.
- Megan’s father, Tommy Boswell Sr., appeared in one of the interviews. “Don’t get mad at me when I say this, but I don’t think you’re telling the truth,” he said to Megan and implored her to stop her “bullshit lies.”
- The jury also saw two interviews Megan to local television news stations on February 21, 2020, in which she said she had reason to believe her mother had left Evelyn at a campground in Virginia.
- Former TBI Agent David Gratz showed the jury items of evidence recovered from the trashcan where Baby Evelyn’s body was found.
- WATCH: Day 5 Recap: Jurors Shown Items From Where Baby Evelyn Was Found
DAY 4 – 2/8/24
- The jury is shown more of Megan Boswell’s Feb. 2020 police interviews, in which she tells officers she last saw Evelyn on Dec. 26, 2019, and left her with Ethan Perry.
- Former FBI Agent Jeffrey Blanton testified that Megan indicated that she was “worn out” and it was “time for Ethan to step up.”
- An apartment application is entered into evidence, which listed Megan and boyfriend Hunter Wood as the occupants. Megan indicated that she was pregnant, “and that would be the third resident.” When asked why Evelyn wasn’t living with them, Megan said Hunter didn’t want Evelyn to live with them.
- WATCH: Day 4 Recap: What Does Megan Boswell’s Apartment Application Indicate?
DAY 3 – 2/7/25
- Megan Boswell’s former friend, Katelyn Carter recollected going out to eat with Megan Evelyn; she said Evelyn was dirty and that she could smell her from across the table.
- Carter became concerned when she saw Meghan without Evelyn on multiple occasions. Erica Stacy, whose son dated Megan, recalled Megan calling Baby Evelyn “mean.”
- Stacy also found it strange that Meghan showed up places more frequently without Baby Evelyn.
- Stacy said that the Megan that appeared on the news seemed “rehearsed,” and wasn’t her true self.
- Randy Wood, Hunter Wood’s father and Megan’s ex-boss, testified that his son’s mental health suffered as a result of being accused in the murder. Said Hunter is currently in a mental hospital.
- Ethan Perry, another ex-boyfriend of Megan’s, testified that he thought he was the father when he found out Megan was pregnant. Perry cooperated with authorities and it was determined that Perry was NOT Evelyn’s father.
DAY 2 – 2/6/25
- TBI Special Agent Brian Fraley Sr. returned to the witness stand for cross-examination and testified to a recorded interview he did with Megan Boswell.
- WATCH: Exhibit: Police Question Megan Boswell During Search for Baby Evelyn
- Fraley offered more detail about the condition in which he found Baby Evelyn.
- Tommy Boswell Sr., Megan’s father, took the stand and detailed his daughter’s lies and coming to realize that Baby Evelyn was missing.
- Austin Feller, a maintenance worker who cleaned out Megan Boswell’s trailer after she left, detailed the dirty conditions he found inside.
- CPS Supervisor James Lewis testified to the investigation into a report of lack of supervision and physical abuse. Officers sent to Megan Boswell’s home were told that Evelyn was with her father, Ethan Perry.
- Dr. Barbara E. Pugh, Evelyn’s pediatrician, said that Megan brought her daughter in for regular checkups until she was 9 months old, and then wasn’t seen again after a sick visit at 10 and a half months.
- Two of Megan Boswell’s friends took the stand to testify to her behavior when her daughter disappeared.
- Audrey Gibbs described incidents in which Megan waited a long time to change Evelyn’s diaper and failed to buckle her into the car seat properly.
- Bailey Hawkins testified that Megan gave her multiple stories about where Baby Evelyn was, and became emotional recalling how she asked for photos of the missing child.
- WATCH: Baby Evelyn Murder Trial: Day 2 Recap
DAY 1 – 2/5/25
- Prosecutor Amber Massengill told the jury that defendant Megan Boswell murdered her daughter by suffocating her and placing her in a trash can.
- Defense attorney Gene Scott suggested to the jury that Megan Boswell did not murder her daughter, and her actions weren’t criminal when she hid Evelyn’s remains.
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Brian Fraley Sr., the lead investigator in the case, described the search for baby Evelyn and finding her remains in Megan’s former playhouse.
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