Philly Police to Reveal ID of ‘Boy in the Box' Next Week, Sources Say (1957 Case)

NBC 10 - Philadelphia ^ | 30 November | Staff

[PghBaldy]

More than six decades since an unidentified boy was found dead and abandoned in Philadelphia, police have identified the child and are set to reveal the boy's name next week, sources confirmed with NBC10.

On February 25, 1957, a boy between the ages of 3 and 7, was found dead, naked and severely beaten in a cardboard box on the side of Susquehanna Road in Philadelphia’s Fox Chase neighborhood.

[PghBaldy]

This is amazing. I had no idea they had DNA evidence in this case. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_in_the_Box_(Philadelphia)

[TakebackGOP]

Why don’t they just release it?

[mewzilla]

They had the little boy.

What they’ve probably done is had a cold case squad find some link to a family member on one of those ancester DNA websites.

Then it would just be a matter of checking records.

[mewzilla]

They want the good press.

Though taking 50 years to do it doesn’t deserve it to my mind.

[mewzilla]

Jeez, 65 years.

[mewzilla]

Meanwhile, from June...

Crime Without Punishment: Homicide Clearance Rates Are Dropping In Philadelphia As Murder Rates Skyrocket

Guess we know why they want some good press, eh?

[PghBaldy]

SPECULATION: I can think of one good reason - what if the potential perp is still alive, and the case is being prepared for an arrest?

[ComputerGuy]

I remember that case. My family was living in Haddonfield, NJ.

[FarCenter]

[stylecouncilor]

Ping

[Albion Wilde]

Why don’t they just release it?

Maybe they have a suspect and want to see if he or she makes any sudden moves.

[SouthParkRepublican]

Well assuming that the suspect was an adult that would put him in his 80’s. Guessing he/she won’t be moving too suddenly.

[Albion Wilde]

Well assuming that the suspect was an adult that would put him in his 80’s. Guessing he/she won’t be moving too suddenly.

Philly prosecuted and deported a WWII Nazi guard in his 90s, if I recall correctly.

Sadly, it seems almost beside the point in Philly's current lawless streets. But identifying the murderer, even if he or she is now dead, may give peace to surviving siblings, nieces or nephews who may have witnessed the suffering of their family's older generations when the child disappeared, only to show up in the newspapers dead and beaten bloody — or may feel vindicated if they, too, were abused by the family member responsible for the child's death.

[PghBaldy]

A press conference will be 11:00AM Thursday 8 December.

https://www.fox29.com/news/boy-in-the-box-police-announce-press-conference-to-unveil-new-details-in-decades-old-cold-case

[glennaro]

In that case, why even announce this now? (”Stay tuned for more on this ‘breaking news’ following this message from our promoter.”)

[PghBaldy]

Probably as others have said, it takes focus away from current crime issue in Philly.

[PghBaldy]

The boy’s name is: Joseph Augustus Zorelli or Serelli (not sure spelling)

live news conference now

https://6abc.com/

[PghBaldy]

WPXI Pittsburgh says: “Joseph Augustus Zarelli”