In 2019, the boy’s remains were exhumed and samples of genetic material were taken again for further testing. The results were uploaded to online databases and analyzed by experts in genealogical research.
After 65 years, US police announced today that they have identified the baby boy found dead in a cardboard box in a wooded area of ​​Philadelphia, thanks to DNA testing and genealogical research.
It was February 25, 1957 when the boy’s lifeless body, wrapped in a blanket inside a cardboard box, was discovered in the woods of Fox Chase, in Philadelphia, USA.
In addition to the obvious signs of beating, “the boy appeared to be malnourished … It was obvious that in his short life this child had experienced horrors that no one should ever have to live through,” Philadelphia Police Chief Daniels said at a news conference. Outlaw.
The autopsy initially concluded that the victim was 4-6 years old. The “Boy in the Cardboard Box” — as it was known in the press of the time — remained unclaimed, since no relative ever appeared. DNA tests were unsuccessful, so the child’s identity remained unknown for decades.
In 2019, the boy’s remains were exhumed and samples of genetic material were taken again for further testing. The results were uploaded to online databases and analyzed by experts in genealogical research.
The investigation led to the traces of the biological mother of the child and later the father. Unraveling the tangle of the case, the investigators reached the end of the thread: the “Boy in the Cardboard Box” was named Joseph Augustus Zarelli and was born on January 13, 1953.
Police did not release the parents’ names, but noted that “some of Joseph’s siblings” are still alive. “This is an ongoing homicide investigation and we need the public’s help to complete this child’s life story,” said Danielle Outlaw.
At the end of October, another mysterious case was solved by the FBI, with the identification of the “Lady of the Dunes” – as she was called for almost half a century. The woman was found dead, with her arms amputated, on a dune beach in Massachusetts in 1974. It was revealed that Ruth Marie Terry from Tennessee was 37 years old when she was killed. Her killer was never found.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
