NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Two people were arrested in connection to a statewide Amber Alert for missing 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell.
The car the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was searching for in connection to the case was found Friday in Wilkes County, North Carolina, along with the individuals authorities were hoping to talk to.
According to WJHL NewsChannel 11, officials with the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office say William McCloud and Angela Boswell were arrested and charged with possession of stolen property. Investigators say they were found in a 2007 BMW in the Shepherds Crossroads Community of the county. The vehicle had been reported stolen.
An Amber Alert was issued for 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell on February 19 after she was reported missing by her grandfather. However, the child's babysitter told detectives she last saw Evelyn on December 10 and 11.
"This case is unlike anything that I've ever been involved in," said Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy. "I know there are a lot of questions and rumors floating around. Believe me, we have a lot of questions still unanswered, as well."
Sheriff Cassidy said the child’s mother, Maggie Boswell, who has sole custody of Evelyn, and her father, Ethan Perry, as well as other family members, have not seen the child for the past two months. It's unclear when Evelyn's mother last saw her.
Maggie Boswell is reportedly cooperating with detectives, but the sheriff says some of the details she provided aren’t adding up.
"Some of the information we're getting is conflicting. It's inaccurate," said Sheriff Cassidy.
When asked if he thought she had been kidnapped, Cassidy replied "I don't disregard anything that has happened, I just hope and pray she's alive.”
Cassidy added that finding Evelyn is their main concern. So far, they’ve received some 200 tips in the case.
The sheriff is personally offering a $1,000 reward in the case, and others have followed suit. Alan Levine offered $5,000. Ballad Health offered $25,000 and Fuller Paving Group offered $2,000. Storage Source One Self-Storage later added $2,500 to that pool, and Indian Springs Armory added $500. Tommy Boswell Sr. and Tommy Boswell Jr. will contribute $10,000 each. The current total reward in the case is $56,000.
Maggie Boswell appeared in juvenile court Friday but it's unclear as to why. She told WCYB-TV that she had someone whom she trusted watch Evelyn while she was at work. Boswell said they disappeared but she didn't call police.
"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," 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."
Boswell also said she would 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."
Anyone with information on where the little girl could be was asked to call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
