Megan Boswell Trial Jury Decision: An Overview from Sullivan County

SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. — In recent developments, Megan Boswell appeared in a Sullivan County court, addressing the significant concerns surrounding the upcoming trial for the death of her toddler, Evelyn Boswell. The court appearance, which was streamed live, primarily focused on the jury selection process, a pivotal element in ensuring a fair trial.

Judge James “Jim” Goodwin tackled the pressing issue head-on, discussing the pending motion for a change in venire, which would essentially involve bringing in a jury from another county. Boswell’s attorneys have repeatedly requested either a change in venue or venire to secure an impartial jury, given the extensive media coverage of the case.

The defense team argues that the high-profile nature of the case makes it nearly impossible to find unbiased jurors locally. However, the state pushed back against this notion, citing surveys that indicate the possibility of forming an impartial jury within Sullivan County.

During the hearing, Goodwin emphasized that the court must first attempt to select a jury locally before considering any external options. “I think that the process that we’re required to do is we have to attempt to pick a jury in Sullivan County before we make a ruling on whether or not we go to another county,” said Goodwin.

Plans are underway to have a Sullivan County jury selected by December. If this proves unsuccessful, the court will seek an alternative similar-sized county to source the jury. Boswell’s attorney, Gene Scott, stressed that the location of the jury pool is less important than its fairness and impartiality. “I want a fair jury. I don’t care if we pick it here, if we pick it in Memphis or Knoxville,” Scott said. “I want a fair jury that’s going to listen to the facts.”

Further complicating the jury selection is the necessity to find jurors capable of being sequestered for the trial, which is expected to last three weeks to a month. Deputy District Attorney William Harper echoed the sentiments of fairness and efficiency, indicating that the state will quickly gauge the feasibility of local jury selection. “We’ll have a pretty good idea once we get started whether or not it’s going to be fruitful for us to try to select a jury here in Sullivan County,” Harper remarked.

The gravity of the charges against Boswell cannot be overstated. Following the tragic discovery of Evelyn Boswell’s body in Blountville in March 2020, Megan Boswell faced 19 charges, including two counts of felony murder. Recently, in June 2024, she was served with a new indictment for first-degree murder, alleging premeditation and intent in Evelyn’s death.

Despite the heavy charges, Scott remains optimistic about a positive outcome for Boswell in the trial. “Once this case is tried, we’ll prove her innocence,” he asserted. Former DEA agent and current defense investigator Michael Templeton supports this perspective, urging the public to withhold judgment until the trial’s conclusion. “There’s only a handful of people who have seen the evidence in this case,” Templeton explained. “We believe that at the end of the day, she’s going to be found not guilty because there’s evidence that’s been misinterpreted.”

Scott and Templeton caution against the influence of pre-formed opinions, whether from media coverage or community chatter. Templeton particularly pointed out, “Anybody can be indicted, including a former president of the United States. It doesn’t mean anything. What happens inside the court is what means something.”

Since her initial arrest in February 2020 for making alleged false reports regarding Evelyn’s disappearance, Megan Boswell has remained in custody. Delays in the trial stem from various factors, including a change in her legal representation. In October 2022, her court-appointed attorney, Brad Sproles, withdrew due to irreconcilable differences, leading to Scott’s appointment.

With the trial date approaching and the complexities of jury selection at the forefront, all eyes remain on Sullivan County as the court navigates the intricate path to ensuring a just trial for Megan Boswell.

The next court session is scheduled for November 1, 2024, where more updates on this critical case will emerge.