Boswell Sentenced to Life Plus 33 Years in Daughter’s Death

Megan Boswell received a life sentence plus 33 years today in Sullivan County, Tennessee, for the 2019 murder of her 15-month-old daughter, Evelyn Mae Boswell. In a hearing before Judge Jim Goodwin, prosecutors secured consecutive terms for first-degree murder, child abuse and related charges, emphasizing the case’s severity and Boswell’s ongoing risk to public safety.

Boswell, 24, was convicted in February on 19 counts-including first-degree murder, evidence tampering and false police reporting-after her toddler’s remains were found in a family shed following an Amber Alert and intensive search. The judge imposed the additional 33 years to ensure she remains imprisoned beyond parole eligibility, citing the “heinous nature” of the crime and Boswell’s “utter lack of hesitation”.

Prosecutors declined the death penalty, opting instead for life without parole. During allocution, Boswell maintained her innocence, stating, “I did not kill my baby Evelyn,” and vowing to appeal, with defense attorney Gene G. Scott Jr. indicating a new-trial motion will challenge the state’s failure to definitively establish cause of death.

Judge Goodwin underscored the need to protect society from Boswell, even into her later years, given the brutal nature of the offense. Deputy District Attorney William B. Harper expressed confidence the sentence would be upheld on appeal, calling the evidence “overwhelming” and the penalties “appropriate for such a crime.”

Evelyn disappeared from her Blountville home in December 2019, drawing national attention and a statewide manhunt. Investigators found her remains in March 2020, leading to Boswell’s indictment in August and trial earlier this year. The case prompted widespread scrutiny of child-abuse protocols and missing-child response procedures in Tennessee.

Sentencing marks the culmination of a six-year saga that began when Boswell, then a teenager, reported Evelyn missing. The verdict and enhanced term aim to deliver justice for the victim and underscore the gravity of crimes against children.