The Heartbreaking Discovery of Evelyn Boswell
In a case that sent shockwaves across Tennessee and beyond, the body of 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell was found stuffed inside a trash can behind a family shed in Blountville. The toddler, dressed in a purple penguin onesie, had been wrapped in a blanket and a garbage bag, with aluminium foil tightly placed around her face. Medical examiners concluded she likely died from suffocation.
A Mother's Web of Deceit
Evelyn was reported missing on February 18, 2020, not by her mother, Megan Boswell, but by her grandfather, Tommy Boswell Sr., who contacted the Department of Children's Services. Initially, Boswell claimed she had last seen her daughter on December 26, 2019, suggesting Evelyn was with her father amid a custody dispute. However, police quickly determined this was false, as the father, Ethan Perry, was stationed out of state with the military.
Boswell's stories continued to shift dramatically. She told a local news outlet she knew who had Evelyn but hadn't reported it to avoid tipping them off. Later, she alleged her mother, Angela Boswell—who had a criminal record—was holding Evelyn hostage over a debt, directing police to a Virginia campsite that yielded no clues. Eventually, she changed her tale again, claiming her mother had given Evelyn to an unnamed person for a "better life."
Investigation and Arrest
As the search intensified, with rewards exceeding $60,000, investigators grew suspicious of Boswell's inconsistent accounts and her delay in reporting Evelyn missing. This prompted a petition for "Evelyn's Law," aiming to criminalize waiting more than 72 hours to report a child missing. Boswell was taken into custody on February 25, charged with false reporting for hindering the search. When instructed to take a polygraph test, she falsely claimed pregnancy to avoid it.
On March 6, police raided the Boswell family home, where Megan had lived with Evelyn in a trailer. Behind a shed, they discovered a brown playhouse containing a white trash can with Evelyn's body inside. Forensic evidence linked Boswell to the scene, with her fingerprints found on the trash can and foil. She was subsequently charged with murder.
Trial and Sentencing
During the trial in 2025, the prosecution argued that Boswell had fabricated multiple stories while knowing Evelyn was dead, driven by a desire to start a new life with her boyfriend, Hunter Wood. Testimony revealed neglect, with witnesses describing Evelyn suffering from severe diaper rash and living in dirty conditions. One witness recalled Boswell calling her daughter "mean as f**k."
The defense claimed Evelyn died of natural causes, such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), or accidentally from co-sleeping, suggesting Boswell panicked. However, evidence showed she had stopped taking Evelyn to medical checkups from nine months old. The jury found Boswell guilty of first-degree murder, child abuse, neglect, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and multiple counts of false reporting.
In September 2025, Boswell, then 24, was sentenced to life in prison plus 33 years, with parole eligibility after 51 years. She maintained her innocence, stating, "I did not kill my baby Evelyn." The judge condemned her as a dangerous offender, emphasizing the need for societal protection. Evelyn's Law was enacted in July 2021, a legacy of this tragic case that continues to resonate deeply.
