Interesting story having a boxie that long. You mentioned "eggs to prove it" , where the eggs fertile and did they hatch?
If you don't mind my aking what part of the country live in?
I live in Northeast Ohio with four adult box turtles, 2 male and 2 female along with a 1 year old from a friends clutch that my male mated with and ...............3 baby boxies as of this writing 1 week old. Thanks and good luck with your boxie.

alan