Mystery of the “boy in the box”: they identified a boy killed 65 years ago in America

More than 65 years after he was found dead in a cardboard box in Philadelphia, police have managed to assign a name to the remains of a little boy who was baptized. “unknown child from USA“: it was called Joseph Augustus Zarelli,

Jareli is dead oldest unsolved case of this city PennsylvaniaAccording to the police, who also said in a press conference that the investigation is ongoing, since It is unknown who was responsible for the death of a child, barely four years old.

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The baby girl, born on 13 January 1953, was found dead in a cardboard box on 25 January 1957. naked, malnourished and badly beaten,

Police put up posters with her image all over the city to try to identify her and catch her killer. Detectives discarded hundreds of leads: that he was a Hungarian refugee, a boy who had been kidnapped outside a Long Island supermarket in 1955, and other missing children. The suspects were also thrown out.

,We suspect who may be responsible.But it would be irresponsible to share these suspicions, as this is still an active criminal investigation,” said Philadelphia Police Capt. John SmithIn a press conference.

police offer a $20,000 Bounty For information about the arrest of the person responsible for the death of the minor.

He also pointed out that the “boy in the box”, as the case is known, He has siblings on his mother’s and father’s side.There were those who could not be identified.

“Youssef has several siblings, both on his mother’s and father’s side, who are living and it is out of respect for him that his parenting information remains confidential,” the captain said.

Officials told the conference that the results of the DNA tests carried out have not been able to identify the child. However, in 2019, after receiving a court order, the body was taken out And forensics were able to obtain enough DNA to be subjected to the new technology.

Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Thursday’s announcement, after a 65-year investigation, “closes one chapter in this child’s story and opens a new one.”

“This is still an active homicide investigation and we still need the public’s help to complete her story,” he said.

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He recalled that many investigators worked on the case for six decades and some died without ever knowing the identity of the child.

He said, “Without the hard work, dedication, passion and perseverance of so many people, we would not be here today to give a voice to America’s unknown child.”

Until now, the boy’s headstone in Ivy Hill Cemetery read: “The Unknown Boy.” Every year, memorial services are held on the anniversary of the discovery of the child’s body. People often leave flowers and toys.