Westfield Woman Indicted In Boston Children's Hospital Bomb Hoax

BOSTON, MA — The Westfield woman accused of making a false bomb threat at Boston Children's Hospital in August was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts related to the hoax on Friday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Catherine Leavy, 37, was indicted on one count of making a false bomb threat and one count of intentionally conveying false or misleading information that a bomb was on the way to Boston Children's Hospital.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said the hospital received a telephone bomb threat and was placed on lockdown on Aug. 30. An investigation determined no explosive devices were located at the hospital.

According to court documents, the phone number of the call was subscribed in Leavy's name and cell tower data indicated the phone was nearby Leavy's residence at the time the bomb threat was made.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said that Leavy's residence was searched on Sept. 15 when the phone believed to have been used to make the call was discovered.

Boston Children's Hospital was among the major medical associations that this week asked U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate and prosecute those who are accused of threatening violence at the children's hospitals and physicians who provide gender-affirming health care across the country.

The hospital is home to the first pediatric and adolescent transgender health program in the United States.

The charge of making a false bomb threat provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of intentionally conveying false or misleading information provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)