Identified! PA - Philadelphia, 'Boy in the Box', WhtMale 4-6, 4UMPA, Feb'57 #2 - Joseph Augustus Zarelli

DNA Solves
DNA Solves
DNA Solves

New Posts

Status
Not open for further replies.
iamshadow21 said:
Oh, I understand that, I just mean it would have been an unconventional arrangement if the second family actually paid to take him. These unofficial fostering and adoption arrangements have gone on for hundreds of years, and generally, it's the birth family who pays. Unfortunately, the family who takes the babies or children can often be abusive, that's why baby farmers historically have such a bad rep as serial killers of infants.

MOO
Click to expand...
In many cases, people who "bought" a baby did it because no legitimate adoption agency would touch them with a 10-foot pole.
 
iamshadow21 said:
The question mark I think hangs over the 'sold him' angle, is that who is going to buy a disabled child? Especially in the 1950s, when you could be arrested for being visibly disabled in public. (The last of the 'Ugly' Laws wasn't repealed until 1974 in Chicago! Disability Rights Timeline ) I can see a childless family buying a child born out of wedlock to have their own family, but for many children born in this way, disabled or just illegitimate, you paid the family or baby farmer to take them, they didn't pay you.

The only way I can see money going to the 'birth' family is if he was perfect and desirable as a potential son. And if he was clearly disabled and that was the reason for the 'birth' family's rejection, he wouldn't be perfect. They'd be paying for his maintenance, or paying a one-off sum for him to be taken away. It's the only attraction for the family taking him - much like families today who foster for the cheques, not for the welfare of the kids they take on.

MOO
Click to expand...
Our neighbors had a disabled child back in the fifties. I never heard of any complaints when he was out in public.
 
OddOneOut said:
Our neighbors had a disabled child back in the fifties. I never heard of any complaints when he was out in public.
Click to expand...
Our neighbor's had a child born with Down's Syndrome in 1972. It was a big deal that they raised the child at home. She was a cute little girl, who showed up in my yard one day and I had fun playing with her.
Unfortunately, we moved away, so I don't know the long term outcome.
 
If Martha's story turns out to be accurate, her parents are both deceased (she herself passed away two years ago) and her uncle who may have been the boy's biological father is almost certainly deceased as well. If not he would be quite elderly.
GoBuckeyes said:
Very glad to hear of the press conference! Very hopeful. Are there any POIs that are known at this point?
Click to expand...
 
The only part of M's story that the little boy's identification can prove or disprove, was her wild hunch that he may have been the son of her uncle. Nothing else of her story can be proven or disproven from our boy's name alone, as it may be that he was a totally unrelated boy who her parents purchased.

His name is hopefully a starting point to understanding his life and death, although there is very little chance of justice - and zero chance if M is correct, as everyone involved is dead.

Blackbirdsitdon said:
If Martha's story turns out to be accurate, her parents are both deceased (she herself passed away two years ago) and her uncle who may have been the boy's biological father is almost certainly deceased as well. If not he would be quite elderly.
Click to expand...

Her paternal uncles died in 1969 and 1980. If she's correct about everything, everyone relevant is long gone.
 
squish said:
The only part of M's story that the little boy's identification can prove or disprove, was her wild hunch that he may have been the son of her uncle. Nothing else of her story can be proven or disproven from our boy's name alone, as it may be that he was a totally unrelated boy who her parents purchased.

His name is hopefully a starting point to understanding his life and death, although there is very little chance of justice - and zero chance if M is correct, as everyone involved is dead.



Her paternal uncles died in 1969 and 1980. If she's correct about everything, everyone relevant is long gone.
Click to expand...
rbbm

This article says family members are still in the area.
We'll know tomorrow!

Police expected to name "The Boy in the Box" on Thursday
 
Friday Fan said:
That is a weird interest!
I worked newborn/neonatal, so I'm just plain old familiar. All the premies who were there for a long time had elongated heads. (They were all delivered CS). The elongated heads were due to being immobile. Not too big of a deal was made about it, due to the fact that the heads would eventually revert to normal growth pattern. Poor Boy in the Box, looks like he was in a position where his head was immobilized until his fontanels were closed and beyond.
Click to expand...
My daughter was a preemie (30 weeks) and had the skull condition mentioned (craniosynostosis) - the who conditions were unrelated. I need to scroll back on this thread to see photos of this child to give my own 2 cents on the head shape. I'm a baby head shape fanatic.
 
Blackbirdsitdon said:
If Martha's story turns out to be accurate, her parents are both deceased (she herself passed away two years ago) and her uncle who may have been the boy's biological father is almost certainly deceased as well. If not he would be quite elderly.
Click to expand...
Totally agreed... I was baffled when they said "arrests could still be made." On who, a 90+ year-old senior citizen?

I'm not saying they shouldn't be arrested, just that the very thought of it is weird. Happens all the time, though. You do the crime, you do the time.
 
Last edited:
digiskunk said:
Totally agreed... I was baffled when they said "arrests could still be made." On who, a 90+ year-old senior citizen?

I'm not saying they shouldn't be arrested, just that the very thought of it is weird. Happens all the time, though. You do the crime, you do the time.
Click to expand...
I remember an interview on an American crime show where the prosecutor said that the cost of imprisoning somebody in their 90s is more expensive in terms of the cost to the facility and the cost to the state because the very elderly often requires specialist dementia care, medical care, and so on. She said this is usually why, when you DO see people in their 90s being arrested, the charges are exceptionally grave or horrendous. Because in almost every situation it makes more sense to leave an infirm and demented 90-something in their 24hr-staffed SNF facility where they get round-the-clock care rather than move them to a general population prison and incur lawsuits when they die from the lack of specialized healthcare. It's not always just about the guilt or innocence of the person, it's also about how much of a strain you can really put on a justice system that often barely functions in the first place.

Not saying that it's ideal because it isn't. But hearing it explained that way really made a lot of sense.
 
Last edited:
Chelly said:
Body was discovered 65 years ago on Feb 25, 1957...slim chances of anyone involved being alive today. But, I think this is great news for forensic investigation.

www.nbcnews.com

Philadelphia police are about to identify body of 'Boy in the Box' — found more than 65 years ago

Years of investigation and two exhumations of the boy’s body yielded DNA samples, which helped police identify the boy, who was found in a cardboard box on Feb. 25, 1957.
www.nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com
Click to expand...
At minimum, it will be interesting to know what karma served up for them throughout their life/lives.

Amateur opinion and speculation
 
squish said:
I meant everyone involved in the crime! I hope his surviving family get closure, and questions answered - I'm assuming it's nieces, nephews, and siblings, rather than his parents, aunts and uncles.
Click to expand...
I've also read different things that "M" may have been a lesbian and had no kids, or that she has a surviving daughter from a relationship when she was young. I wonder what the case really is, and whether, if her story is born out, if there is anybody left on her side of the story to see her vindicated after all these years.

Come to think of it, I wonder if her psychiatrist is still alive and following this case. He or she clearly found her believable enough to make the initial report with her.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

DNASolves

Who is DeKalb County John Doe (2022)?

Members online

... and 167 more.
Total: 3,366 (members: 168, guests: 3,198)

Online statistics

Members online
168
Guests online
3,198
Total visitors
3,366
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads
604,064
Messages
18,167,038
Members
231,925
Latest member
Missmichelle1932
Back
Top