Testimony continues in the murder trial against Megan Boswell, a Tennesee mothere accused of killing her daughter and lying to investigators.
Boswell faces several charges related to the death of her daughter, Evelyn Boswell. The baby’s remains were found in Sullivan County after an Amber Alert was issued on March 6, 2020. Among the charges are two counts of felony murder and one count of first-degree murder.
During the trial, Chris Wilhoit, the assistant special agent in charge of criminal investigations at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Johnson City Field Office, was the initial witness on Tuesday.
Wilhoit recalled a conversation he had with Boswell outside the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office on February 23, 2020, where she talked about Evelyn. He then requested her to come into the sheriff’s office lobby to give a statement.
Wilhoit stated that he recorded the interview, which finished shortly after midnight on February 24, 2020. He also made his own notes during the session.
He then testified about his interview with Boswell on February 23, 2020. Deputy District Attorney William Harper requested the jury to listen to the recording of the interview, which was entered into evidence.
In the interview, Boswell said her mother, Angela Boswell, picked up Evelyn to take her camping with her boyfriend in Mendota from December 14 to 16, 2019. She explained that she had asked Angela to watch Evelyn for a break and packed a basket of items for the child, which she handed over at her former trailer home.
Boswell claimed she expected to get Evelyn back the next day, but Angela told her she was a “bad mom” who did not deserve the child. According to Boswell, Angela said Evelyn was with someone who could provide a better life and mentioned going camping in Mendota, encouraging Wilhoit to search that area.
Wilhoit said he became about parts of Boswell’s story, but she maintained that Angela had given Evelyn to someone else, though she did not know who.
When Wilhoit asked why she had not shared this earlier, Boswell said she was uncertain if Evelyn wanted to be with her, as others had called her a bad mom.
In the recording, when asked if Evelyn was alive, Boswell confirmed she was and suggested the child might be in the Mendota area.
Ar the time, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Andy Seabolt responded to Boswell’s claim. According to the Tennessean, Seabolt said Boswell’s camper claim was “investigated completely.” Authorities did not find Evelyn.
“The claim that Megan made stating that Evelyn was in a camper in Mendota was investigated completely,” Seabolt previously said.
Meanwhile, Wilhoit continued his testimony by saying he pressed Boswell to tell the truth, emphasizing that she had no reason to withhold.
Wilhoit read Boswell’s statement back to her for approval. After the recording ended, Deputy District Attorney Harper asked Wilhoit to identify a document, which he confirmed as a signed copy of Boswell’s statement. The court entered the statement into evidence.
Before stepping down from the stand, Wilhoit added that there was no evidence to suggest that Boswell’s story was legitimate.
In 2020, Boswell told News 5 that she didn’t want to report Evelyn missing because she was afraid the babysitters would run away with her. At the time, Boswell declined to name the babysitters. She later said she was referring to her mother.
“Every time we talk to her, her story changes,” Sheriff Jeff Cassidy of the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department said in 2020.
“I’m serious when I say every single time.”
Boswell has pleaded not guilty to charges against her. Check back for updates.
Read all of our Evelyn Boswell coverage here
[Feature Photos via TBI]
