In February of 1957, a haunting mystery unfolded in northeast Philadelphia, forever etching the name “Boy in the Box” into history. The tragic discovery of a deceased young boy concealed within a cardboard box shook the community to its core. Back then, forensic advancements were nowhere near what they are today, leaving the child’s identity a baffling secret for an astonishing 65 years, until 2022.
The initial finding of the boy’s body was by chance—a college student stumbled upon it while examining muskrat traps. The naked child, wrapped in a blanket and nestled inside a JCPenny bassinet box, bore signs of severe malnourishment and brutal trauma, suggesting a tragic end marked by violence.
The boy was badly beaten and his hands and feet had appeared to be wrinkled, having “washerwomen syndrome”, showing his hands and feet had been in water for a long period of time either right before the death or after it.
Despite widespread publicity and exhaustive investigations by officers and detectives, the boy’s identity remained elusive. The city plastered his face across every available space, hoping for leads, yet no one stepped forward to claim or identify him. The medical examiner’s report confirmed the boy’s demise as a homicide, unveiling the harrowing truth that he was a mere 4 years old.
The photos above are photos taken and published to the public to attempt and make the boy look more recognizable, hoping someone would come forward claiming this poor child.
The hunt for clues led investigators down countless paths—rumors of the boy being a refugee, probes into traveling carnival workers, scrutiny of nearby foster homes, and an exploration of missing persons reports. Each lead, unfortunately, led to a dead end.
Months passed, and with no identity revealed, the boy was laid to rest in a Philadelphia cemetery, funded by the Homicide Squad. A simple gravestone marked the spot where he was interred, bearing the poignant inscription, “Heavenly Father, Bless this Unknown Boy, February 25, 1957.”
The boy’s first funeral service was attended and put together by the Philadelphia police department.
Years later, a woman from Ohio claimed a shocking story about the boy, suggesting she knew of his origin and tragic end. Despite her seemingly credible account, authorities couldn’t corroborate her claims, adding yet another layer to this heart-wrenching saga.
The case became a personal mission for Remington Bristow, an investigator whose unwavering dedication kept the flame of hope burning for 36 years until his passing. His tireless efforts prevented the boy from fading into obscurity.
Advancements in technology offered glimmers of hope. In 1998 and 2019, authorities were allowed to exhume the boy’s remains for DNA testing, but it wasn’t until recent advances in genetic genealogy that a breakthrough emerged. Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick’s team painstakingly extracted degraded DNA over years, leading to a match and the revelation of the boy’s identity as Joseph Augustus Zarelli.
Despite Joseph’s parents being deceased, authorities discovered living siblings, breathing new life into the investigation. The community, marked by the gravity of the city’s oldest unsolved homicide, felt a renewed sense of connection and compassion.
Captain Jason Smith acknowledged the uphill battle in definitively determining the cause of Joseph’s death. While uncertain about potential arrests or further identifications, the dedication to seek closure persisted.
Joseph, once a nameless boy in a pauper’s grave, now rests near Ivy Hill Cemetery’s entrance, honored as “America’s Unknown Child.” Annually, ceremonies commemorate the discovery of his body inside that box, attracting visitors who leave tokens of remembrance, ensuring Joseph is not forgotten.
The revelation of Joseph’s name brought a sense of closure, allowing a proper memorial for the boy who never experienced the love he deserved. While the reasons behind his tragic fate remain shrouded, investigators remain resolute in seeking justice, holding onto the hope that this sorrowful tale will one day reach its conclusion.
This heartrending case echoes through time, impacting not just the authorities but the entire community. The tragedy of a family losing a child, the anguish of not knowing his fate, and the unanswered questions have left an indelible mark on all touched by this poignant story. Yet, in knowing Joseph’s name, there’s solace—he finally rests in peace, and the world knows who he was. This case pops into my head every once in a while, I think about the original funeral and burial service full of the investigators, no family ever saw his funeral. It’s a truly heartbreaking case.
