Evelyn Boswell (1) was found deceased in February, and her mother Megan has now been charged with her murder

In February 2020, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee began their search for missing toddler, Evelyn Boswell.

Evelyn (16 months) “was last seen by certain family members near the end of November 2019 and the first of December 2019,” per a notice from the State of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services to the sheriff’s office.

The toddler was said to be 2 feet tall, weighing 28 pounds. She had blue eyes.

The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement regarding the classification of the search:

“We realize that some may question why an Amber Alert has not been issued for the child. Criteria for issuing an Amber Alert are established by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and this case does not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert to be issued.”

Very quickly after this statement was made, the law enforcement agencies backflipped and they issued an Amber Alert for Evelyn.

The FBI and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation assisted in the investigation from the beginning.

You can see the Facebook profiles of Evelyn’s parents here:

Maggie Wood

Maggie Boswell

Ethan Perry

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Evelyn was last seen on December 26, 2019. This is different timing to that provided by law enforcement.

On February 21, 2020, Megan/Maggie made a public statement:

“Well the reason I didn’t report it or anything was I knew the person who had her, and I didn’t want them to run away with her,” Megan Boswell said. “And as soon as they thought anything was going on they just kinda vanished. So I’m just kinda worried, you know, about where they are at. What they’re doing with her at this point in time.”

She says that Evelyn was with a person she trusted to watch her daughter while she was at work.

“In a way I knew that as soon as anything went down this person was going to disappear and they have. And they have tried to find them… They won’t answer phone calls. They just kinda disappeared.”

Megan said she’d do things differently if she is given a second chance.

“Yeah I probably would have called the first day. I should have. But I just didn’t want them to run with her, like they have now.

On the same day that Maggie made the statement, her mother and her mother’s partner were taken into custody.

Evelyn’s grandfather also spoke to the media on February 21. He confirmed that the last time he saw Evelyn was on Thanksgiving and that he was the one to call DCS to report her missing. When he told his ex-wife (Angela) of his plans to call DCS, she said ‘you’re going to regret this.

You can see his interview here.

A reward for information on Evelyn’s whereabouts was at $33,000 and counting on Friday evening, according to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed on Friday evening that they had found the vehicle they were looking for in connection with Evelyn’s disappearance.

The TBI said the vehicle was located in Wilkes County, North Carolina along with individuals law enforcement were wanting to speak with. After the discovery of the vehicle, Evelyn remains missing.

On Monday February 24, 2020, Angela Boswell waived extradition in a North Carolina court room and told the judge that she was anxious to resolve the situation.

“I’d like to get back there and get this situation with my granddaughter resolved,” Boswell told Wilkes County District Court Judge David Byrd.

They are each are charged in Sullivan County with theft of property over $2,500 in connection with a stolen car (the Silver BMW that the TBI were originally looking for). Angela also faces a violation of probation charge.

William has claimed the BMW was a gift from Evelyn’s mother, Maggie. “I had no idea anything had went wrong with the car,” he said. “Apparently her daughter hadn’t paid for the car. Neither of us was aware of anything about that.”

Both Angela and William will remain in custody without bond in North Carolina until the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office can return them to Tennessee.

On this same date, Megan spoke to the media again.  She said that her mother Angela had taken Evelyn to Mendota, Virginia.  

“I told TBI where to find her in Mendota. My mom took her to a campground in a silver camper and if they don’t go tonight, I’m going to go find her myself, because I’ve told them and they’re not really like taking it seriously and if they don’t go tonight, I will go myself and go get her…They’re not taking me seriously, TBI isn’t, because I’ve not fully told them I’ve been like ‘hey, like my mom camped out in Mendota, you know, to go check them out,’ but I’ve never been like, ‘hey,’ specifically, ‘hey, she’s like in a silver camper,’ because my mom did threaten me like you know if I told anybody – I’m not gonna get into that – but she did,” Boswell said, adding that her mother “was just going off on” her after the AMBER Alert was announced.

She also told WJHL that she wanted to address rumors about her family.

“Gypsies are not a cult. They have been asking people if there is like a Gypsy ringleader and like…I mean like we’re not like ringleaders, we’re not like out here kidnapping babies, or anything like that. Well, yeah, and like my dad’s very proud of that, you know, but he’s just mad about all the rumors going around like trashing them cause like we’re not a cult, you know what I mean, we’re not like, nothing like that at all,” Boswell said.

Law Enforcement went to the campground in Mendota and no trace of Evelyn or anything related to her case was found.

On February 25, 2020, Megan Boswell was arrested. The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office charged her with one count of “false reports.” Megan was being held in the Sullivan County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

On February 26, 2020, police began carrying out a search of a pond in Wilkesboro, NC. The property that was searched belongs to William McCloud’s grandmother, Mary.

Online listeners reported that they heard a ’10-79′ call over the scanner. This means ‘notify coroner’. This search did not turn up any evidence in relation to Evelyn’s case though.

Angela Boswell was released from jail on February 28. She was released after she posted bond and is required to wear an ankle monitor. Her next court date was set for March 4.

Maggie Boswell remained in jail. Police confirmed that she was NOT pregnant, despite what she posted on social media before her arrest.

The TBI has said they have received over 700 tips in their search for Evelyn. She remains missing.

UPDATE – March 6, 2020

Authorities discovered human remains.

According to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, investigators searched the home of a family member in the 500 block of Muddy Creek Road on Friday evening after receiving new information in the case.

The sheriff’s office said the property belonged to a family member of Evelyn’s mother, Megan Boswell.

At a hearing on March 4, Judge Klyne Lauderback asked Angela Boswell if she had yet retained a lawyer.  She confirmed that she did not have a lawyer representing her.

“I can’t find an attorney that will take the case,” Angela told the judge, citing a “stigma” that surrounds it.

Angela told the judge said she had called several lawyers and that she was yet to hear back from them.

Lauderback asked when she was going to have an attorney.

“I’m working on that. I’m Googling, trying to find lawyers,” Angela said.

William McCloud made bond on March 4 and was also released from jail on that date. He was represented by Ricky Curtis, a court appointed attorney.

A new court date for Angela Boswell and her boyfriend William McCloud has been set for March 24.

Update – March 9, 2020

Megan Boswell appeared in court today. Her bond was increased from $25,000 to $150,000. “We thought it was appropriate under the circumstances to file a motion to increase bond and to have a hearing as soon possible,” said Sullivan County District Attorney General Barry Staubus.

During the hearing, TBI agent Brian Fraley shared testimony on the discovery of a child’s body Friday night.

“There was a body. Of a child, possibly a year, year and a half old,” Fraley said on the witness stand.

Fraley confirmed the age, size, and characteristics of the body matched the description of Evelyn Boswell.

“What else was found there?” asked Staubus.

“The clothing, with the prior interview of Ms. Boswell, the clothing described in that interview was the exact clothing that was found on this child,” said Fraley.

“What else was found there?” Staubus asked again.

“There was various… various child clothing, diapers, toys. That kind of thing. That would have belonged to the child,” Fraley said.

In an interview following the court proceedings, Staubus affirmed Fraley’s testimony.

“Clothing was found. It was consistent, matched the clothing that the defendant said the child was wearing,” Staubus said.

Another key moment came when Judge James Goodwin asked Fraley about statements Megan made during interviews with investigators.

“Did Ms. Boswell make any inculpatory statements with regard to the death of Evelyn Boswell?” asked Goodwin.

“Did you say culpatory or…?” Fraley asked.

“Inculpatory,” Goodwin said.

“Yes,” Fraley answered.

Inculpatory statements are legally defined as incriminating or placing guilt or responsibility.

A news agency contacted Megan’s father Tommy. He said he would not be posting bond for Megan.

UPDATE – March 11, 2020

The TBI confirmed that the remains found belong to Evelyn Boswell. “We have a sad update to pass along in our ongoing search for answers in the death of 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell. Remains found on Friday evening have been confirmed to be those of the little girl.”

The family of Evelyn’s father, Ethan Perry, released a statement:

A judge has sealed records from an autopsy of remains believed to be those of missing toddler Evelyn Boswell, said Sullivan County District Attorney General Barry Staubus.

“I thought it was necessary because of the publicity the case has engendered, and because it’s still under investigation,” Staubus told Knox News on Wednesday. “I thought it would maintain the integrity of the investigation.”

The Boswell family released a statement on March 12:

The statement said, “The immediate Boswell family (excluding Angela Jones Boswell ) of Evelyn are in anguish and grief over their loss. It has been a very rough and trying time for everyone. At this time they do not want to speak publicly in regards to the tragedy. They are still trying to process what has happened. They ask for media and the public to respect their wishes. They need more time to grieve, privately.”

On May 6, 2020, police announced that they have a person of interest in Evelyn’s case. They did not elaborate on who the suspect is and they also said they are still waiting for Evelyn’s autopsy results.

Megan was indicted by a grand jury on 11 counts of false reporting on May 21. A judge decided that Boswell’s bond would remain in place and set the next hearing for July 31 at 9 a.m.

Update – August 18, 2020

Evelyn’s mother Megan has been charged with two counts of felony murder. Her total charges from today are:

One count of felony murder in perpetration of child abuse

One count of felony murder in perpetration of child neglect

One count of aggravated child abuse

One count of aggravated child neglect

One count of tampering with evidence

One count of abuse of corpse

One count of failure to report a death under suspicious, unusual, or unnatural circumstances

12 counts of false reports

Her bond is currently set at $1 million.

Boswell’s attorney, Brad Sproles, said he has not recently spoken to his Megan.

“I have not been able to speak with her recently, there have been some COVID issues at the jail,” Sproles said. “So, we’re somewhat limited in our ability to talk to folks up there. But I’ve spoken with some of the sheriff’s officers and in the next few days they’re going to try to make arrangements maybe where I can talk with her by video.”