After decades, the Boy in the Box has been named, and DNA tests may soon uncover the identities of eight others buried nearby
Philadelphia: After 65 long years, the little boy known as “America’s Unknown Child” has finally been identified as Joseph Augustus Zarelli. But there are still eight other bodies next to him that remain a mystery, and authorities are waiting on DNA results to learn their identities.
Joseph was just four years old when he was found in a cardboard box on the side of the road in 1957. He was beaten and bruised, wrapped in a blanket. It’s heartbreaking to think about what he went through.
For years, he was called “The Boy in a Box” and was buried in a potter’s field in northeast Philadelphia. Thanks to new DNA technology, they finally figured out who he was in December 2022.
Over the years, many victims who died under suspicious circumstances have been buried in that same area. Now, investigators are hoping to identify more of them. In September, they exhumed samples from eight bodies, ranging from children to adults, some dating back six decades.
But as the year comes to a close, they still don’t know who these victims are. A spokesperson mentioned that the DNA samples have been sent for analysis, and they’re still waiting for results.
Joseph was murdered in 1957, and it took until 2022 for his identity to be revealed. The other victims include a young girl found in 1962, an infant boy from 1983, and several adults discovered between 1972 and 1984.
Ryan Gallagher from the Philadelphia Police Department said it’s rewarding to finally give families closure when they can identify their loved ones. It’s a tough job, but they’re committed to it.
Police, genetic genealogists, and the FBI are all working together on this project to figure out who these eight bodies belong to. They’re calling it the Remains Identification Project, and it’s part of a long effort to identify the unknown dead in the city.
While Joseph’s case is still open, and his killer hasn’t been caught, his identification gives hope for the other victims. A court order was needed to exhume his body back in 2019, and it took over three years to finally identify him.
Joseph was moved to Ivy Hill Cemetery in 1998, and last year, they dedicated a new headstone with his name and picture on what would have been his 70th birthday. It’s a small comfort, but it’s something.
Even though both of Joseph’s parents have passed away, he has half-siblings who are still alive. For the eight unknown victims, police are hopeful they can find family members through DNA, just like they did for Joseph.
Inspector Raymond Evers mentioned that they’ll use all the scientific methods they applied in Joseph’s case to help identify the remains they find. So, fingers crossed that they can bring some answers to these families soon.
