A Westfield woman has been handed a probation sentence after pleading guilty to making a hoax bomb threat towards Boston Children's Hospital. Catherine Leavy, 37, was placed on a three-year probation by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin on July 18, 2024. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, she admitted to one count of making a false bomb threat and one count of intentionally conveying false or misleading information regarding an impending bomb on the healthcare facility.
The threat made in August 2022 led to the hospital being locked down and the summoning of a bomb squad. Monitoring threats against the hospital, especially due to its Gender Multispecialty Service (GeMS) for gender-diverse and transgender youth, law enforcement agencies had been on alert. After sweeping the premises, no explosive devices were found, confirming it was a hoax. Pleaded guilty in September 2024, Leavy expressed disapproval of the hospital on multiple instances following the investigation by authorities.
On August 30, 2022, the hospital received an alarming call stating, "There is a bomb on the way to the hospital, you better evacuate everybody you sickos." The U.S. Attorney's Office announcement details how the investigation led back to Leavy. Using subscriber and call detail records, along with cell tower data, officials were able to link the threatening phone call to her residence. During a subsequent search at her home, law enforcement recovered the phone used to make the threat.
In an on-scene interview, Leavy admitted to making the threat but stated she had no real intention of causing harm. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, along with other law enforcement officials, announced the findings and sentencing. Valuable assistance in the case was provided by the Westfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared C. Dolan, Deputy Chief of the National Security Unit, oversaw the prosecution of the case.
