Hidden True Crime - MEGAN BOSWELL TRIAL: DAY 4 & 5 RECAP

Episode Date: February 11, 2025

The trial of Megan Boswell for the murder of her daughter, Evelyn Boswell is underway. Join Lauren as she breaks down all of the latest info from days 4 and 5 of the trial! Stay tuned for more recaps as the trial continues. About Hidden True Crime: Lauren Matthias, a former television reporter, and her husband Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, started Hidden True Crime in 2020 with their Season, 'Beyond the Veil,' a psychological deep dive into the doomsday murders and prophet. What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a forensic psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime Our Sponsors:* Check out Acorns: https://acorns.com/HIDDENTRUECRIME* Check out Acorns: https://acorns.com/HIDDENTRUECRIME* Check out Armoire and use my code HIDDENTRUECRIME for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style* Check out Effecty and use my code HIDDENTRUECRIME for a great deal: https://www.effecty.com* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code HIDDENTRUECRIME for a great deal: https://happymammoth.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hidden-a-true-crime-podcast1836/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lately, I've been trying to be more intentional about what I wear, intentional about everything, just choosing pieces that feel effortless, still put together, timeless, but also not overthinking it every morning. It's why I keep going back to quince. Their pieces just make getting dressed easier and I feel so classy. I feel elevated. The fits are flattering. The fabric is really high quality. Everything is wearable day to day. I actually got this really, really, beautiful yellow V-neck midi dress from them, and I paired it with some Italian leather sandals. It's one of those outfits that just works. It feels polished but still comfortable. It's exactly what I've been looking for. What surprises me, though, is the quality for the price. Quince uses

premium materials like European linen, organic cotton, but they cut out the middleman. So everything is priced way lower than you'd expect. Refresh. your every day with luxury you can actually use. Head to quince.com slash hidden true crime for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's quince, quince, q-u-in-c-com slash hidden true crime for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com slash hidden true crime. I'm Lauren Matthias and we are recapping the Megan Boswell trial so you do not have to watch hours of courtroom coverage each day. If you do want to watch full trial coverage, we'll still be here to break it down for you. And for the full backstory on the Megan Boswell case, head to our link in the description of this episode.

Day four of the Megan Boswell trial started with Steve Williams, who was the lieutenant of criminal investigations at the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office when the investigation first began. Steve interviewed Megan at the Sheriff's Office, but he also listened to other interviews that had been done between Megan and other. law enforcement officials during this investigation to find out where Evelyn was. The interview starts off on a pretty interesting note. Take a listen. Hello. I don't see Williams. Hold on this is okay. I'm going on.

I can't go. They didn't tell you about your child now. Yeah. Yeah. Where is you? What was the last time you saw your child down? I'm coming on television. Where?

Where? Ethan. Okay. And you say Ethan, does that make Ethan's in Louisiana or Ethan's? In Bluntel. I got told him. I don't know if he took her off to her right after I dropped her to him, but I don't know what's going on. Where did you give her to Ethan?

Ms. Wuntles. I was drunk on top. Okay. And what's his grandparents tonight? I don't know his grandmother, name is Sherry, but to do you. name is Sherry but I do not know his grandpa's name. Okay. Have you ever been there? You want your wife. And you've met? I've met Carl. And that's his grandpa. Yes. Okay. And I'm sorry I didn't know his name, but assuming if you asked me it spit around on my

right. That's so wrong. Um, and- Do I have any questions here on that? No, no. We've got done just a few minutes. Okay. Why are you in a hurry? I mean like no, but if there are any key question me, excuse me a line, like I went dirty. Okay. Because I'm not locked it in. Okay. Well, do you want to talk to me? Yeah.

Okay. All right. Megan goes on to say that the last time she saw Evelyn, her own daughter, was on Christmas Day when she took Evelyn to Ethan's grandparents. She claimed that she did not walk inside, but just stood in the driveway. You dropped, Emma. Mm-hmm. And...

So the cartoon is hard and everything. What kind of car was he driving? That's 2018 Nissan Versa, it's black. Okay. And then that was Christmas Day round? Mm-hmm. Okay. And then after Christmas Day, do you communicate with, you know,

again? He won't talk to me. But? On New Year's Eve and sort of on New Year's again, me and them are new back and forth. Oh, text message. No, I'm on the phone. Okay, so actually talk.

Yes, he would get mad and hang up and I'll call back and he'd answer for a little big and my hand up and just what answer. Did he say he had Edlin in? Yes. And I left in tons of work, Mel's and I was like, look like if you want me to leave, where I'm out, like I'll come to him to meet her and Evelyn, like I just want to to speak with her family, you know what I mean, but I'll come to where you are. Where was he at him?

I think he was up his friend's house. Who's his friend? I don't know, to be honest with you. friend around here or friend? Right around here. Okay. And you don't know who this friend is? He doesn't tell me anything.

Okay. How long have you adopted before? Like three years, maybe four. Okay. Three years, yeah. You know his friends? No, I was never allowed to be around any of friends. Okay.

And then did you ever kind of even say, hey, where's that's been? I've tried to call and he will answer. I was like voice messages, he went to call back. And I wanted to like I was telling them, like I had Evelyn for like over a year and he never checked on her and I just support her by myself. So you're like, up here I was like,

you can take care your daughter for a little bit. Not that I don't let my daughter want to be with her, you don't say if I was like, you don't help me at all. Like I want you to see how I feel, no help. So he didn't help you financially or taking care of her because he was in the military? Yeah, like he would never even be like, hey, like, is you okay?

like, can I check on her and help me out? Just to live in my house, dinner? I don't know. And you don't know where she's at? And the last time you saw it was Christmas. Right? Right. Have you went to his grandparent's house?

Yeah, but nobody was there. Well, yeah. Okay. Have you called him when she's in there? And what brought you here today? I asked my dad called. So you still hadn't? heard from her and somebody's call about her.

Yeah. Right? And you have no idea where she's at. Have you tried to talk her? I mean, yeah, like I called and will answer me. I didn't know you went back to the Army until then. Like I was news to me when they came in her like, oh, he's in Louisiana.

Have you went to court? No. To be honest with you, I was really trying to be still over it. And like I said, I was for like over here, and I was like, if you want to keep her for a little bit, like that's fine by me, you know what I'm saying? My mom. My mom had a baby when I was like 12, 13.

I don't remember it was 1213, so I guess I was 12. And like, I had basically raised him. She was in 10, and I had basically raised her, you know what I'm saying? It was like I had three kids all the time. Okay. And I was like, a test kid, if you want to keep her for a little bit, like, by all means, you know what I mean, I'm all for it. And like I said, something, I don't want to be with her, but it's just, you know what it is. This, of course, contradicts earlier trial testimony in the trial where Ethan testified he never saw Evelyn that day.

And Megan seems pretty nonchalant and perhaps even annoyed to be interviewed about her missing daughter, at least from what was played in the courtroom. After they played the interview, Lieutenant Williams was cross-examined. Attorney Scott brought up when Megan mentioned an attorney, but Lieutenant Williams was quick to say she didn't ask for an attorney. She said, quote, if this happens, I want an attorney, end quote. Megan also asked him if she needed an attorney on his way out of the room after the interview. And on the stand, he testified that he told her he couldn't answer that for her. The second witness on the stand was Joey Strickler. At the time of Evelyn's disappearance, he was working at the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office as captain of criminal investigations.

although he now works as a victim witness coordinator for the DA's office. Throughout the investigation into Evelyn's disappearance, Joey worked as a liaison between all of the different agencies involved, which included Sullivan County, the TBI, and the FBI. He also interviewed Megan twice on February 20th. Megan started off by not asking about her missing child in this interview. Instead, she asked about her alleged boyfriend, Hunter's past history. So interesting, not asking about Evelyn, asking about Hunter.

Take a listen. Hey, I'm Joey Strick, I'm a captain of criminal investigations. They called your boyfriend, Hatter? Yes. And he's supposed to be, I read it, supposed to come to him. I would want him. No, you know what your mom? Not him?

Yes. Okay, I can I ask you something? Okay, so if I got on the other cop scar, he was going to tell me, like, I'm wondering that, like, orders a infection against him or, like, domestic assault or something? I can find out. I don't mind. Can you tell me that? Oh, I could tell you that if I need it, but I can find out for you.

Sure. I mean, I'm not wrong with me if like the other things. I just really like, don't want to be around that kind of person, you know what I mean? I don't blame you. Okay. Let me see if I can find out for you. Joey continued to try to talk with Megan to see if she would give any more information regarding Evelyn.

You know, I've been watching, you know, videotapes. I've been watching it. It, I've been doing this long time. I've been a cop for 30 years. And it breaks my heart to see a young lady like you and you have a child. We don't know what's that.

Did you watch me cry? I was starting off crying. That's a cut down. That's okay, okay? Because the fact matter is, you have a Maggie that I'm, you know, that precious little baby's somewhere. I don't know. And I honestly believe, I want to believe that you would tell us my heartbeating if you knew what that child was at. And is there any way that you can think, maybe help me to find that little baby?

I really don't know I'm sorry to turn it over my That's okay That's okay It's okay It's okay I know that I know you're not sooner

In a while And I know We've been talking to We've had him on the phone We've had his captain On the phone We've been talking and trying to find This baby

Is there any way That That somebody has that baby that's a friend of yours or a family member that's afraid that if they're afraid to tell us or they're afraid that you'll tell us so they want to keep I don't know if you know that I dropped her house to where what happened so I was trying to really aren't and I was like thinking about her and dropped her off and she's not what she's wearing and stuff like that and I just I'm sorry that's okay that's okay it's okay I understand

please, we're just trying to find out what happened to that whole thing. And, you know, I'm a daddy. And it breaks my heart to know that this child could be with someone that don't love it, that don't take care of it, or God forbid something bad has happened to that baby. And, you know, the thing about it is, everybody's going to point back to you because you're the mama and you're the mama that let the baby go. When I say let the baby go, I mean, you're the one that took the baby and sat here. I know, but I was going to her dad, and I thought it was okay.

You said you thought it'd be okay. Do you think something's happened to it? I mean, no, but I mean, I didn't think that, you know, I wasn't going to see her from a bedtime or something like that. What I did, and when I was started happy, I was like, oh, I want to be in my mom. and trying to like solve myself. I don't want to do that. You know what I'm saying?

I don't want to be that person who does all that, you know what I mean? And I've just learned her for over a year about myself and I was like, and he wants to keep her for a little bit. It's fine. How old are you going to ask? 18.

You're just a young lady yourself. You're in a brand new moment and you're only into a different world to play. And I can understand you feel in that way and say, I just want a little bit of time to myself. A little bit of time to be me before I have to be a mama.

And you had all these things that happen so quick to you. You know, it's, but it's your heart. My heart goes out to you. But I'm telling you, we've got to find that little thing. We've got to find her. And do you remember when she broke her arm? Somebody said she broke her arm. I don't know if she actually broke her arm.

God, I just know it was bruised. I never saw it. You never saw a bruise? No. Did this happen after you gave her to you? Okay. Okay. Well, now, when they say that you dropped the baby off and his parents, his grandparents, his grandparents,

he stood outside, but he didn't go in. And who was the baby at? On my head. And then I let her kind of, like, go to him to get used to him. And I think he about 30 minutes, and she was on. So he, okay, did the Ventressor would come out? No. No.

Okay. And that was the last time you seen her? No, I saw the next day. You went back and said to the... Just first day, and be he brought into it. He told me to leave. Okay, who was with you when you went back to this? It was just you.

Now, was you dating anybody during that time after you left? A hundred. I didn't really tell me if Ethan were into it. Okay. So you went from me. From Ethan 200. Okay. Then the interview shifted, focused towards Ethan, who at the time of this interview was the alleged father of Evelyn. We know now that Ethan was not and is not Evelyn's father.

But Megan said that she met Ethan as a freshman in high school. She also talked about her trip to visit him while he was in the military and said that after she went on that trip, she brought Evelyn back home with her. When asked about moving out of the trailer and moving in to live with Hunter, she had some interesting things to say. me okay so you're thinking that you're doing the best for your baby by him and I know that sounds better so I know that nothing better I don't need that person or not wrong you know what I'm saying but I would know him about like a couple weeks when I'm dealing with him you know I was kind of like kicking me out you know okay but that led you

to I guess what I'm trying to say though is that was a natural route for you to go as far if you wanted someone to watch, Emily was taking to take her to eat them. Yeah, her dad. Her dad. Okay. Let's be honest. Buying cannabis shouldn't be complicated, sketchy or low quality. That's why I want to tell you about mood.com. That's M-O-O-D.com.

Mood ships federally legal cannabis straight to your door. No medical card, no hassle. And here's the kicker. The quality is better than anything you'll find at your local dispensary. Yeah, I said it. Whether you're into edibles, concentrates, flour, or just looking to explore, you'll find it all at mood. And it's not just the variety that makes them stand out. Every product is sourced from small American-owned family farms that care deeply about what they grow. It's cannabis you can

trust, delivered discreetly, and ready to elevate your mood. And because you're a listener, you get 20% off your first order. Just head to mood.com. That's M-O-O-O-D-com to get started. What's one financial lesson you learned the hard way? I'll go first. It's not too late to start saving. Today's episode is sponsored by Acorns. Acorns is a financial wellness app that makes it easy to start saving and investing for your future. You don't need to be an expert.

Acorns will recommend a diversified portfolio that matches you and your money goals. You don't need to be rich. Acorns lets you get started with the spare money you have right now. And one of the best things about acorns is they allow you to see projected growth, on their website. Simply go online, type in how much money you'd put in and see the potential future balance of your account. Sign up now and join the over 13 million all-time customers who've already saved and invested over $22 billion with Acorns. Head to Acorns.com slash hidden true crime or download the Acorns app to get started. Paid non-client endorsement.

Compensation provides incentive to positively promote Acorns Tier 1 compensation provided. Investing involves risk. Acorns Advisors LLC and SEC registration. registered investment advisor. A few important disclosures at acorns.com slash hidden to crime. Does anyone else find themselves saying, I feel way older than I actually am, or I feel way younger? Did you know there might be some truth behind that feeling? That's where true diagnostic comes in. With their true age test, you can discover your true biological age, plus get insights into health risks for heart disease or Alzheimer's, even your mortality. I just ordered my true diagnostic test, and while nervous, I'm looking forward to what it may tell me about my own health so I can take control of things now.

When taking tests pertaining to my health, I want to make sure it's scientifically backed and true diagnostic is. Their true age test is based on peer-reviewed research from scientists working at Harvard, Duke, and Yale. And by tracking your biological age, you can actually see how the changes you make, whether that's exercise, diet, or sleep will affect your health over time. Ready to find out your biological age? Right now, our listeners can get 20% off their entire order at True Diagnostic.com by using code hidden true crime at checkout. That's True Diagnostic, T-R-U-D-I-A-G and O-T-I-C-C-D-I-C-N-O-S-T-I-C-C-C-T-C-C-T-C-ROM.

Plus, if you subscribe, you'll get an additional 20% off. Discover your true age today. Hormonal changes are so hard to see the least. Hot flashes, anyone else? in the thousands of hormone disruptors that are in our environment, and it is even worse. From our water, food, the air we breathe, and the clothes we wear, they are everywhere. But the good news is that when hormone harmony enters the picture, it can help reduce hormonal symptoms in women of all ages.

Hormone harmony is a supplement that contains science-backed herbal extracts called adaptogens. The best thing about adaptogens, they help the body adapt to any stressors like chaotic hormonal changes that happen naturally throughout a woman's life. Hormone Harmony is actually part of my personal 2024 playbook. Hormone Harmony makes no compromises when it comes to quality and it shows. For a limited time, you can get 15% off your entire first order at happy mammoth.com. That's happy H-A-P-P-Y mammoth, M-A-M-M-O-T-H.com. Just use the code Hidden True Crime at checkout.

That's code Hidden True Crime. Use that with Happy Mammoth.com for 15% off today. Joey explained to Megan that they were going to put a nationwide alert out on Evelyn, and he really seemed to try to be appealing to her emotions to get her to help with the search and with this missing child case. I just pray to the good Lord above that we're going to find her. We won't find her alive and find her well taken care of it. because I've been doing that a long time.

And the worst thing you ever had to deal with is the death of a child, or anybody that's been hurt, or a baby that's been abused. And I have a lot of nightmares about that. And it's been too many to count through the years. And all I want to do is stand up for that little baby that may not be able to stand right now. And I need your help. I do. I need your help.

And if you can think of any way, it's actually for them, where that baby's at, or where, just to point me in the right direction, please tell me, please tell me. I want to, I want to bring it back in. bring her back in. Is there any way that you, can you tell me a reason why that you didn't reach out since Christmas to the family to try to find him and talk to her? Just see it up and even put her on the phone that we speak to her. Because I was really just try to resolve true deep and be honest with you. Just try to resolve it to treat me too.

What do you tell me what you think? What do you think that's happened? I don't know if he'd take her any child drop with someone else's what. Do you think he'd hurt her? No. Did you hurt her? No.

Would Hunter hurt her? No. He didn't really, like, threat me a whole time and he never actually, like, did anything, you know what he is? Did he ever show any aggression or anger toward your little baby? No, I don't know. I'll know.

You never seen that? No. You said that she had a breeze on the arm earlier. How did she, do you know how the bruise happened that you think of... I was a bed. You know, that's all right. And he said... Did that happen?

Did you ever see the bruise and stuff? You never did see the bruise with a road farm or anything like that. So you did have some telephone call conversation apparently. We have beaten about her. Yeah. Okay. Well, this is weird. Because the things that we're being told is that

by him is, he's like, I'm a singer. He has seen her. I swear that he has. When you last time you've seen that, on Christmas evening. He had her lends. I had her brother on Christmas. So me and my family's home and her went to Fitchie Forge

and we said, and I went to him back Christmas Day. And I went on her stuff, but I got her. And I got, like, with something, my brother got him and stuff, but I took it to him. There on, um, off the Har town. Did you get to see her that day? Yes. What did you take to that day? I don't know my brother got her, but I got her like a little horse and, like,

bang a shark style, they closed, and stuff like that. After playing the first video, court took a little bit of a break before playing the second video. And the second interview was different from the first. First. By this point, it seems like Joey is already considering Megan to have something to do with Evelyn's disappearance. But Megan continues shifting the blame. I have, you know, I've got some, been a couple of a long time, and I've got some of my own, my own thing about this stuff. But just something is not having to find. It's just not enough. And, you know, if there's something that you think in your mind, In what that's been informed that you could say. Well, I was talking to that day.

He told me that he told me that. She said, when all this started going to hell, and I said, what's going on? You want to have something? Oh, that's all he told me today. So, that's funny. So, Tommy, told you that's the bad thing. That you...

The mom that started going on, because he called for his last before. He told her what he was doing to do. And she said, well, you can't do that. Well, you can't do that. This is what he told me. Like, I'll have to disappear. I can't come back to that. I'm going to go to me.

Oh, she doesn't know what. Oh, she didn't do anything too. But I thought he couldn't have it to the baby. I thought he was too good. I told me this one. I promised you. I talked to my phone on my way down here. Because I called my grandma first.

I wanted to stop down there for any of my parents. I don't know how he talked to you. I just was like, but he called me. He said, sir. So she did, man, probably told you that he has talked to... No, this was the morning call up here. Okay, but he has talked to your mom. A couple of days.

And that he told me that he lied to her and lied me and said that D.J.S. was going to do a whole visit on the Lodge because he thought that she was in her an officer. And so he basically, before he said to Angel Man, tell me. help me with this, and he told Angel that he was going to send DCS to you. He said, oh, like, I'll have to leave, and like, nobody's never fired me again. Like, I'm going to chill. I'm going to go out. He was all right. I thought he was going to send.

Okay. And then Angel said that she was going to run, but she's going to leave himself. That's what she fell down, apparently. So, Dad told me that he lost to her and stuff that these kids were going to go checkup on Elijah so he could get her, get him from her, my little brother. And then when they met at Eagle that, like, she was crying and, like, wouldn't say, make that or anything like that. And she was that pretty much.

I'm sorry. I just told him that, like, so much space and I'm all that happened. Even if I saw that she would do anything, just really like, I'm sorry. And I told my first question was, hey, I'm sorry. you all thought of her. Did yesterday the whole way up here, she was like, mentioned I mean saying, they're like, I won't lie and she didn't run out and asked.

I just wouldn't tell me. I mean, I'm sorry. You wouldn't tell, and that's hard word, though you wouldn't tell them the truth. I'm sorry. But she was like just got me and say that she wouldn't come up here, she didn't want to even be like,

seen, blah, blah, blah, stuff like that. You don't want to be seen. She wanted to be seen. Stuff like that. Do you think she's in that, do you think she's in that car about being, Yeah.

When the last time you seen her she's in the Beavadne? Yeah, she was driving out to Elmese. Oh, okay. That was the day that you walked up here. Yeah. Okay. Was my cloud with her? Yeah.

Did he drive or the kid she drive? He'd drive? Did he? He'd drive? Okay. And whose car is that? Who's Beamer is that? Well, 100 days you know, but he didn't get the final five to ever do it.

Okay. So that car should be in her name. I think it's an brother's name. That's why I think it was out of everything. It was one of the car, but Tanner was going to buy it, and then Tanner back down on it. When Megan was asked if she had one shot to get her baby back, where she would go, Megan started talking about Mendoza, saying that her mom and her mom's boyfriend had been trying to get her to go up there. As a quick side note, you'll remember that she also brought Mendoza up in the TV interview.

Well, actually, I want to talk about that. I've told TBI where to find her in Mendoza. My mom took her to a campground and 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, like, I will go myself. When asked about how Megan gave Evelyn over to Ethan to kind of figure out how her mom was brought into it, this is what Megan had to say.

Now, you know, I know that you said that you gave, um, gate and went over to eat them. Okay. So mom also told me that she's top of eating and sister. Your mom has stopped to eat and see. That's what I don't know, like 100%, that's just what I've been told. She told you that, Angel told you that? Yes.

If you want to question, she's been her in her, then you can not tell her that I like. Oh, absolutely. Don't you worry about that. Let me take it. Don't worry about it. I want her. I want your baby back. Okay?

I want, I want, I want, I want, I want everyone. I want her back. Safe and sound. I want her. I mean, those pictures of her. That picture is her and you. I'll be honest, I got left from my law in my office of you and her.

But that makes me want to go that much farther and try to find her. Okay. And it breaks my heart to know that she, I don't know what she's at. You know, she'd be with some of me. anyone else? Could they be treating her head? How would she okay? That type thing? And then, no, no, dear God. Could somebody have killed her? Could that little baby be in an edge line somewhere, or maybe in a trash pile or something like that? And that's really what God did. And so, but what you said, Angel has talked.

She says that she's caught. She was talking. She's talking to the evening. Most people don't realize how much their personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers are making billions, pulling details about you from public records and the internet. And then packaging and selling it,

usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where ORA comes in. ORA actively removes your data from broker's sites and keeps it off. They also instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach

or on the dark web. But ORA goes beyond data protection. With one app, you get a VPN, antivirus, password manager, spam call protection, dark web monitoring, and even up to $5 million in identity theft insurance, all backed by 24-7 U.S.-based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit monitoring, or just a VPN. ORA gives you all of it, together, at the same price competitors charge for just one service. Start your free trial today. atora.com slash remove. Protect yourself now

atora.com slash remove. And you're pretty, pretty, pretty firm if you gave, uh, playing Ethan take care of her by Christmas.

Was it Christmas Day or? No, Christmas. It was Christmas. Me. My family went the fishing for it, and I dropped her off before we went. The little,

your little, uh, go with you. to pick up for you. See, I'm under my brother, his wife and like, those kids with. Where did you all go to when you all

did you all in Florida? We all right. And I mean, we all stayed up in a lot of them. I'll stay number four. Pretty nice flight. So, do you come back on Christmas day?

Yeah. And when you went back over, did you go see, did you see her on Christmas? Yeah. Okay, so you went back on Christmas Day. I had her Christmas, so. Did you get the singer?

Christmas, yeah. You can let you hold her anything. What time do you go about Christmas? I haven't really done. I went to my brother's 50 stuff. I probably got like four or something, so I guess it's after that. So you took presents to me? He knows.

At each and you. I mean, you picked one And did you get to go in Or did she just No, he always didn't He said, I was You took the little The little girl

Christmas presents And then you got to hold her hand And then He gave her back Yeah The reason why he just didn't say Come on me going to the back of mama She started reaching for him

But I didn't want to take Her up front too She started reaching for him Yeah I just thought she wanted to be there. I didn't want to take it. And honestly, I just wanted to break. I thought of all that.

After the second interview was played, a lunch break happened before Joey was back on the stand. The defense just asked a few questions about the timing of the interviews and how long in between each interview. There wasn't much beyond that before Joey was released from the stand. After Joey testified, the state called FBI agent Jeff Blanton. Agent Blanton interviewed Megan. on February 19th, 2020, with another law enforcement member. However, the interview was not recorded because FBI policy doesn't allow any interviews to be recorded when they are not taking place on FBI property.

Agent Blanton said that Megan told them that she had dropped Evelyn off with Ethan at his grandparents on Christmas Eve alone, but the last time she saw her was on Christmas day. Blanton and Megan talked a lot then about Ethan. It's your belief that the last day it was December 25th? Yes, ma'am. Okay. To your knowledge, did she tell you whether or not she'd ever left Evelyn with Ethan Perry prior to this time?

I don't recall that she indicated she had ever left her daughter with Ethan Perry prior to this. Did she talk at all about the fact that Ethan was in the Army? Yes, ma'am, she did. Okay. What does she say about that? She told me that Ethan was in the Army, that he was home on break, and she was going to let her daughter Evelyn stay with Ethan, who she indicated was his biological father for the holiday.

And that he also indicated that his contract was up or was soon to be up with the Army. Okay. Okay, so after that date, December 25th, did the defendant indicate that she continued to go over to Ethan's house? to try to see Evelyn? No, ma'am, she did not? Okay. So did she tell you she did not try to go back over?

Yes, ma'am. I recall having a conversation and she said that she called, I think on New Year's Eve. Okay. But that she did not see Eve. There was some discussion she indicated between her at some point. I don't know if it was the 24th or 25th. I don't recall specifically, maybe both days. She said they did get to an argument that Mr. Perry said that he was going to

try to get custody. Okay. So she's she's telling you that Ethan had threatened her? With with tempted to be custody of Evelyn, yes ma'am. Did she show you any proof of any custody paperwork at any time? She did not. I recall asking her if who the biological father was on the birth certificate and she indicated that it was not Mr. Perry, but I don't have any recollection of who that person was if listed all. So at some point she told you Ethan Perry was not the father. Not listed on the birth certificate. Not listed on the birth certificate. Okay, I apologize. Okay. So did Megan ever say why she hadn't contacted law enforcement when she could not get in touch with Ethan Perry? Yes, ma'am, she did. I asked that question and she said that the cause Mr. Perry had made threats that he would attempt to gain

custody of the child. She was fearful if she went to law enforcement that that would further anger him and bolster his case about getting custody of the child. Okay. Okay. So, Megan has told you that she's never left Evelyn to stay with Ethan before this date. Did she ever explain to you why she felt like it was okay to leave Evelyn with essentially a stranger to Evelyn? She indicated that she was, I recall her using the words worn out. Okay. that Evelyn was attached to her at the hip, and she needed a break.

That she had taken care of Evelyn for a year, and she felt like it was time for Mr. Perry to step up. And that she had also been taking care of her father or stepfather's children, her other children in the home. Okay. And she was tired. Did she indicate whether or not she could handle Evelyn herself? She indicated she was just getting too much to handle. Yes, ma'am. Blanton testified that Megan was very matter-of-fact during the interview, but said that Megan,

did tear up when he explained that she could be charged with a felony if she was lying. Cross exam was similar to others with Attorney Scott mostly just asking questions about the time and the date of the interview, clarifying sort of those logistics of this interview. The last witness was former TBI agent David Gratz. Gratz's testimony took up most of the afternoon as he was the TBI agent assigned to the case during the investigation. The Amber Alert poster was shown in court, and you could see Evelyn's purple penguin pajamas that she was found in. On February 19th, Gratz went to the trailer home where Megan and Evelyn had been living to meet with Austin Feller, the guy who cleaned out the trailer.

At that point, there were new people living in the trailer, but they were informed that Megan had left things behind. And when they searched the shed next to the trailer, they found a pink and black stroller that was believed to be. abelance. This stroller was also in the courtroom on Saturday. And Gras confirmed that was the stroller that he found. I'm going to ask if you can identify this piece, if you can recognize what that is. Yes, I recognize that. Okay. And what is it? This stroller we found at the defendant's former trailer. Okay. Gratz shared that law enforcement was working long hours on the case and he talked about an interview he did with Megan that started shortly before midnight on the 19th of February and went to almost 3 a.m. Megan stuck to her story about dropping Evelyn off with Ethan. At this point,

the court took a quick break before resuming questioning of Gratz. There was another interview that Gratz was present for on the 21st of February. And before that interview, Megan consented to law enforcement taking some items of hers from Hunter's house. And, this included a Polaroid photo Megan took in North Carolina, brochures from the same trip, the photos of Megan and Hunter at the aquarium that we saw last week and a thinking of you card. There were also photos of Evelyn and photos of Evelyn with Megan that were taken from Hunter's house as well as the baby shark blanket and the shirt that Erica Stacy testified about last week. Those two were found in a memory box.

When the jury returned, Agent Gratt showed a memory book to the courtroom belonging to Megan that had things like ultrasounds and other photos of Evelyn. And in an interview with Gratz and another investigator named Matt Price, Megan began saying her mother had Evelyn. However, after Angela and her boyfriend William were located in North Carolina, Grat said there was no evidence Evelyn was ever in their custody. A few days later, Megan showed up to the police station and asked for a search party to go to Mendota. She explained she was afraid that if she went alone, she could be charged with tampering with evidence.

Gratz also stated that at that point in the investigation, investigators were beginning to think Evelyn may no longer be alive, mostly because of the conflicting information and Megan's attitude. He even asked Megan if it's possible that Evelyn died from an accident or something like a breathing issue. But Megan said no. After that interview, Gratz offered to lead Megan out a side door to avoid media attention, but it seemed as though she was already anticipating speaking to the media that day and went out the front door, which we now know is where and when she lied about the polygraph test and being pregnant. Later, during his testimony, Gratz reiterated what took place when he and Brian Frey searched the playhouse and located Evelyn in the trash can and

March 6, 2020. He stated that after Frailey removed the top bag from the trash can, he began to smell decaying human flesh for the first time and saw a small leg. He discussed the process of removing Evelyn from the trash can on the porch of the playhouse and reviewed the photos of her remains. He also stated that when they removed the bag containing her body, it left an imprint in the trash below. Gratz also mentioned that there was a piece of gum stuck to the trash can, which was collected for DNA evidence, all of the items including the foil, the blanket bags, the trash can, and more items. They were all sent to the TVI lab for analysis and after the body was sent to a forensic center in Johnson City, an autopsy concluded that the remains

thrown in the trash were that of little baby Evelyn. Day five began by continuing testimony from former TBI Special Agent David Gratz. Assistant DA Amber Massingill question Gratz about the contents found within the playhouse on the Boswell compound. Gratz explained that these items were sent to the TBI Forensic Lab for analysis, and he presented each item to the jury as well. These items included the white kitchen trash can where Evelyn was found. The purple penguin onesie she was wearing as well as the gray fleece blanket and aluminum foil wrapped around her body. Viewing these in person was much more impactful and simply viewing photos as evidence

of decomposition could be seen on each item in the courtroom. He explained that pieces were cut out of the trash can for forensic testing and that there was dust placed on it as well to pick up any potential fingerprints. Massingill asked Agent Gratz whether law enforcement searched the Boswell compound prior to the day Evelyn was found, to which he replied yes. However, he stated that they didn't search the playhouse before it was suggested by Tommy because they had no reason to believe the playhouse was involved in her disappearance. He also stated that Tommy Sr. was thoroughly investigated. That's Megan's father. And they had no reason to believe that he was involved in Evelyn's disappearance or had knowledge that Evelyn had been placed in the

playhouse. Massingale questioned Gratz about all of the other potential suspects. That included Ethan Perry, who back then was considered Evelyn's father, Angela Boswell, that's Megan's mother, William McLeod, that's Evelyn's mother's boyfriend, and Hunter Wood. That was Megan's alleged boyfriend Hunter. And he said that they were all thoroughly investigated and determined to not be involved in Evelyn's disappearance in any way. Is there any individual that the investigation continued to point at? There was one individual. Okay, who was that? Those are the defendant.

Okay. Next was defense attorney Gene Scott's turned to question, Agent Gratz, about the other potential suspects. He asked if Hunter Wood's DNA was collected, and Gratz said that it was not. Then Scott said, quote, in fact, Hunter refused to provide his DNA to law enforcement, end quote, which Bratz agreed.

Scott then said, quote, so his DNA could not be compared with any of the DNA found where the body was found, end quote. Gratz stated that even though his DNA was not processed against the DNA found at the playhouse, his fingerprints were collected after he was booked into jail for an unrelated charge. Next, Scott wanted to discuss Hunter Woods mental health. Grat said that during the time of the investigation, he was unaware that Hunter was actually

diagnosed with schizophrenia until a much later date. Now, last week, we learned that he was in a mental hospital and now we are learning more about that and we are learning about schizophrenia when it comes to Hunter. In a bizarre line of questioning, Scott asked Gratz if he was aware of a connection between people with schizophrenia and tinfoil hats. There was an objection to this question and Scott rephrased by saying, quote, did you give any consideration to the possibility that the tinfoil on the baby could have been placed there by someone with mental health issues? End quote. Gratz stated that they did a significant investigation into the tinfoil, but really only the forensic side of things and not

necessarily any symbolic meaning it could have. Scott then made this remarkable statement regarding a possible connection, this tinfoil hat statement. Short of forensic analysis, did you all investigate, is there something that might make someone place tinfoil on a child? Like, for instance, people with schizophrenia are known to wear Tenfold hats. Agent Gratz, did you investigate any connection between mental health and whoever placed a tenfold on this child? I'm not aware of any theories of mental health issues is concerned with tenfold, so nothing specific like that was ever investigated. does that answer your question?

To your knowledge, did anyone in your prosecution team do that? As far as mental health issues and tinfoil hats? Not that I'm aware of. No. There was a quick objection, and I think most people can agree that insinuating people with schizophrenia wear tinfoil hats, and that would be a reach. Calling someone a tinfoil hat wearer is usually a negative way to describe someone who is paranoid, suspicious, or believes in conspiracy theories. While people who have schizophrenia may

experience delusions and paranoia, saying that they are known to wear tinfoil hats is an untrue generalization. And also, there are already people pointing out that the depiction of someone wearing a tinfoil hat is vastly different from a foil that is tightly wrapped around Evelyn's entire head and upper body. Next, Scott questioned Gratz about the searches that were conducted on the Boswell compound. He tested. testified about a team and cadaver dogs searching the property on February 23rd, but the dog didn't hit on any areas that day. Three cadaver dogs were taken to Megan's trailer on February 21st as well, but no hits were made there either. Attorney Massingale came back for a brief redirect and asked

rats if he felt like his team followed up on every possible lead they could during the investigation, and he said yes. She began to ask him if out of the 20 plus people that were interviewed, if any ever saw Hunter with Evelyn. But there was an objection, and he was unable to answer that question. Next on the stand was a lieutenant with the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, Matt Price. Most of his involvement in the investigation included conducting interviews primarily with Megan. He also assisted at the scene where Evelyn was found by placing various trash items into evidence bags. Lieutenant Price held up some of these items such as water bottles, a baby bottle, a receipt, a tissue, rubber glove,

all of which were collected from the bags inside the white trash can. Next, an interview from February 20th was played between Lieutenant Price and Megan, in which she starts telling the new story of her mom taking Evelyn to the Mendota campground. At first, she stated that she had a gut feeling that Ethan may have been the one to give Evelyn to her mom. However, it's clear from their questioning that they didn't believe this version of events, especially based on her text message history that they had between her and her friends, where she claimed that Ethan had her the entire time. At one point during the interview, the investigator stepped out so that Tommy could talk to Megan about everything going on.

In the footage, Tommy could be her telling Megan, quote, you need to tell the truth. If you tell lies, you dig a hole you can't get yourself out of, end quote. Megan then insisted that she was finally telling the truth and then perpetuated the lie about, Angela having Evelyn. They then had to have a child molesters and somebody orange babies. Their wife is living in a little real brief. I told everything I'm going. No, I'm telling you. I told me. And my right around, you're right. After a brief break, we came back to view another interview conducted on a different day with Lieutenant Price and Megan. They're still trying to make a concrete timeline since Evelyn went missing.

There was a pretty heated exchange, actually, where Price begins calling Megan out for discrepancies in her story, especially because there was evidence of her and Hunter being with Angela during the time that Megan claims that Angela had Evelyn. You're not out here doing all that you can find your daughter. Two reasons. You know where she is or she's dead? And another thing. Some of this is bullshit that you're saying right here. Say you can't find mom and she won't tell where she's at. You're not looking for, but you just, after all this, you're with her, right? You're hunting and your mom go to the Long Rock, North Carolina,

and you said this receipt is from where you and your mom and Hunter were there. But where's that one there on? I don't know. Where is she? Mom would not tell me. So you went along with her? You went with your mother on a trip to blown her off to go faster around, and your little girl, you don't know what she said.

Is that what you want me to believe? I'm being honest. That's not what I asked. You went, you've got detail after detail, after detail after detail after detail of this little girl. Her whole entire life. Basically, you can tell us to the stipend. to the hour of what was going on in your child's life until here when Megan said that she's finally being honest price didn't mince words and said quote bullshit end quote at that point in time

it appeared as though Hunter believed Megan was pregnant with his child and they began going to look at apartments together and when applying for one apartment they wrote that there would be three residents. Agent Gratz, who we heard from before said, quote, you go out hunting for apartments and not for Evelyn. For you, Hunter, and the new baby. He put on the application that three people will live there. That's the three of you, the new baby. Evelyn's hung out to dry. That's why in my heart, I believe Evelyn is dead, or you know where Evelyn is, end quote. Megan coldly replied, quote, I don't know where she's at. The last person I knew had her was my mom, end quote, not even addressing anything else he said like apartment hunting for the new family

without Evelyn. Gratz then said, quote, well, here's the thing. Your mom's hung you out to dry. There's something you're not telling us. I mean, do you not care about her? And quote. And Megan said, quote, I do care or else I wouldn't be up here, end quote. And he said, quote, bullshit. You don't care about her. She's been gone for how long. You never picked up the phone. You never called DC. You never called We're months behind finding her. There's nothing more we can do for you. You're going to go home while we're looking for your baby and not care. That's all we can do.

End quote. At that point, Megan started becoming more defensive as the investigators were calling her out on all of her lies, her bizarre behavior, her seemingly not caring about Evelyn's safety, and she just developed this very condescending attitude that was pretty hard to watch. Whatever, whatever Evelyn is, whether she's alive or whether she's dead, You're at peace with it. I'm not at peace with it. We, you don't show it?

Just because I'm not crying out all the time. It's all more than just crying all the time. I mean, like I said, I'm a parent. I have three kids in my own. If one of them, a little older, if one of them were gone, you couldn't tie me down anywhere because I would be out if I was on foot in this old storm looking for them. But not you, you're out here at Bowman Raw, Rift's Aquarium, go and pick up Olive Garden.

Life is normal for you. She's gone, and you're at peace with it. I know. It wasn't exactly normal. You're at peace with it. You're with Hunter. He's taking, you're with him, doing anything with him, run around here, going places. That does not mean out of it.

And Ellen's gone. That doesn't mean I was at peace with it. How is it not? Because you were there. Not here with her. Not looking for her. You were there with him. Are you at peace with it?

No. What are you not at peace with? I don't have my child. We know that. I'm just sitting here trying to figure out what it looks. But with all of this, what looks the worst. I can't tell if it's the fact that you're going to Ripley's a week after your child's been missing five days. The fact that you're picking up food, providing for somebody else, a random dude, basically.

No, he gave me the money. Because you're going to get it and got it for him. I was thinking for it. Whatever. You ain't got it for him. Couldn't I'm looking for everyone. You're providing for somebody else. You're coming care for somebody else now.

blowing rock however long he's hit there you got hunters insurance in that box in your baby box after the video the defense attorney scott asked lieutenant price if he's sure they mirandized megan before each interview he said they did and it seems as though scott was trying to cast doubt on their process and making sure that the interviews could be used and then scott asked if price had any interaction with hunter wood to which he replied no scott brought back up hunter's mental health problems and if Price believed that would affect how they investigated the case. Attorney Scott seemed to want to push the issue that Hunter and his mental health weren't looked into further. Next on the stand was state's witness Jay Quintence, who is an employee for the

local news station WJHL. Jay explained that one of his reporters interviewed Megan during the time Evelyn was missing and that they turned over the raw footage to law enforcement. At that point, they played the raw footage, which was used prior to editing and airing the TV on interview. Obviously, today we are seeing videos of Evelyn. First of all, tell me what kind of little girl she is. She's very sweet. She loves everybody. She's never been mean ever. She's I'm very thankful for. She's just a really good heart of baby in general. Like textbook, how you want a baby to be like has very milestone early, you know what I mean? And speaking of that, tell me what kind of things does she like?

What kind of milestones has she been hitting recently? Well, when she was six months old, she actually quit a bottle on her own. It went straight to a syphico. She started walking probably around like 10 months. That was kind of hard, though, because she's like not like small as in like underfed, you know what I'm saying. But like she was a premium and she was born. She's like a smaller baby. And she kind of in trouble like balancing her way.

But she finally got the hold of it. She's starting to say a lot of words and, you know. Tell me what kind of things she likes to do. What kind of is, like, is she into any certain TV shows? Only baby shark. And running in a car. Yeah. She loves to be in the car.

We went to Texas to see her dad, Ethan, and she slept the whole way there. Like I had to make her wake up to eat and stuff like that. And that's like a 24-hour drive there. So let's get into the last time you saw her. Tell me what that time was like and when that was. Well, actually, I want to talk about that. I've told TBI where to find her in Mendoza. My mom took her to a campground and 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, like, I will go myself and go get her. Tell them you want to. They're my. Don't get into that. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.

No, you need to defend yourself. That's all they need to know. Quit. Quit. They already know, Megan. The last witness on the stand was an employee for another local news station called WCYV TV named Keith Wise. His station covered the Evelyn Boswell case, and a reporter interviewed Megan outside of the police station, the one where she claimed to be submitting to a polygraph. Well, they played the raw footage from this interview, but didn't have any questions for wise.

How old is she now? She's 15 months a day, actually. Can you tell me a little bit? I said she's very sweet. Is she sweet with everybody? She is. She loves everybody. Can you tell me a little bit about how you're feeling? Do you miss her?

Of course I miss her and like, I can't tell anything about the ongoing investigation, but I'm sure you all have released an article about the car and stuff like that. So we have a pretty good idea if they're watching, I just want you to bring her back. Do you like to say to them for watching her? I just want her back. Yeah, that's my child. I'm sorry, I know this must be hard. Why don't you tell me a little bit more about her? Do you have any pictures of her?

Have you been looking at photos and stuff of her while you're, how are you coping with all of it? I was walking back. If you could tell her anything now, what would you, what would you say to her? Not longer and I miss me and I'll be with her. She feels like he didn't get to her and forth. After this footage, court ended for the day. We'll continue to bring you recaps and updates as this trial unfold.

This is Lauren signing. off at hidden true crime. Most people don't realize how much their personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers are making billions, pulling details about you from public records and the internet, and then packaging and selling it, usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where ORA comes in. ORA actively removes your data from broker sites and keeps it off.

They also instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach or on the dark web. But ORA goes beyond data protection. With one app, you get a VPN, antivirus, password manager, spam call protection, dark web monitoring, and even up to $5 million in identity theft insurance, all backed by 24-7 U.S.-based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit monitoring or just a VPN. ORA gives you all of it, together, at the same price competitors charge for just one service. Start your free trial today atora.com slash remove. Protect yourself now atora.com slash remove.