A fascinating 65-year-old cold case has finally been solved by DNA. Name to be announced on Thursday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY-e4Ci ... iladelphia

I’ve read about the boy in the box before. Glad they are finally able to identify him. The story said prominent family. Hmmmm. Thursday should be interesting. Think they’ll actually say the name of the family?

It’s interesting that a lot of old cases are starting to get even partially solved. Recently with the Zodiac’s cypher being figured out, and more recently the Somerton Man’s identity. Both are not solved (still don’t know who the Zodiac was), tho there are theories, and while the identity of Somerton Man (Carl “Charles� Webb) was found, it’s still a mystery on what happened.

I want to say I remember reading something years ago about a former cop being a person of interest in the case of the Pennsylvania kid.

Glad they've discovered his identity. Now what will be even better is if the one(s) who did it are still alive and finally face justice.

The parents would have to be at least 80-85 years old at this point, highly doubtful they’re still alive, but at least the child can have an identity and a proper memorial, and maybe there’s a sibling or other relative who might care.

I can’t begin to fathom what could lead someone to treat a child like this.

The announcement is that they will make an announcement in two days.

His name was Joseph Augustus Zarelli, four years old, and they say he does have living Siblings.

https://www.the-sun.com/news/6872141/bo ... ladelphia/

Sounds like the siblings would be half brother(s) or half sister(s), since they were saying he had siblings on both the maternal and paternal sides.
Also the parents are both deceased. But saying the above statement, suggests either they were never married, or married and divorced. The one detective mentioned the fathers name is on the birth certificate, spelled slightly different, in a way that sounded like maybe they weren’t married.

The one genealogist said there was a male handkerchief nearby, and showed a news clipping from 1957 that suggested it was a clue. A bit later the detective said there was an article of clothing he wasn’t going to say what, that was being tested but the dna was majorly degraded. Sounded like he meant the handkerchief.

Glad they at least have a name for him now.

Even though the parents are deceased and 1957 was a long time ago, there has to still be someone left who knows something. A relative, neighbor, or someone who remembers the kid and possibly some overlooked bits of information about his disappearance. Unfortunately in most cases like this, the perpetrators are either the parents or another close family member.

He apparently had 2 siblings. They may have been too young to remember anything. The fact that the child was never reported missing speaks volumes. At least he now has a name.

A Local Eagle Scout candidate lobbied to have a historic marker placed at the location where the boy was found. It's about a mile away from where I live.

https://6abc.com/philadelphia-boy-in-th ... o/2634177/