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

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  • #661
Ugh, the suspense is killing me. Ever since the announcement I've been constantly searching for updates—primarily the announcement of the date of the press conference... I was hoping today was going to be the day, but alas, it's not. Hm. Maybe tomorrow!
 
  • #662
Unfortunately, abusers very much like children who cannot easily communicate about what is happening to them.
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
 
  • #663
Waiting on pins and needles.
 
  • #664
  • #665
Why did police make this announcement only to have them not be ready to reveal anything? They shouldn’t have said anything until everything was in order.
Which police agency was it, specifically? It's hard to trace where the information came from in the media, I'm only seeing the media reports themselves and they don't reference any specific person or agency. That information may be geoblocked for me.
 
  • #666
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 (The last of the 'Ugly' Laws wasn't repealed until 1974 in Chicago!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

Not all disabilities are apparent at birth.
 
  • #667
Have they mentioned when the announcement should be?
 
  • #668
The Philadelphia PD has never officially announced that there has been an identification. A reporter for a Philadelphia television station got a police captain to say that there have been rapid developments in the case. After that it’s all “sources who said”.
 
  • #669
Why did police make this announcement only to have them not be ready to reveal anything? They shouldn’t have said anything until everything was in order.
I'm thinking maybe ... (1) the communication was made in error, and once it occurred they had to act on it given the high profile nature of his case, (2) letting everyone know, including those who know more, which may provide additional opportunities to glean information around his case essentially out of the imminent inevitability of the announcement, (3) perhaps there are multiple parties/families involved - born to one family, raised by another, or perhaps even abducted, (4) perhaps there is some party or even an institution that could be held liable in some way even given the poor baby has been deceased for 65 years. Hard to know. I'm thinking if they are waiting, there is a reason and am trusting and hopeful it is more about preserving this child, his memory, and the investigation instead of from some crazy media angle. I hate to even think or say that, but I have seen it before :( Peace little one <3
 
  • #670
The announcement is suppose to be this week, but no exact day given.
 
  • #671
The announcement is suppose to be this week, but no exact day given.

The police have never said that. A television station did.
 
  • #672
The Philadelphia PD has never officially announced that there has been an identification. A reporter for a Philadelphia television station got a police captain to say that there have been rapid developments in the case. After that it’s all “sources who said”.
You're right. The quotes are "sources say"...not Philly P.D. Might be someone rushed to get "the scoop" before Philly was ready to schedule anything. Guess we'll see.

Amateur opinion and speculation
 
  • #673
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  • #676
11AM Eastern? i don't wanna miss this because i'm on pacific time.

I set a countdown clock

I hope this works for all time zones.

 
  • #677
I set a countdown clock

I hope this works for all time zones.

It works for me in the UK. Thank you.
 
  • #678
Tuesday, Dec 8 at 11am
Screenshot_20221206_192613_Messenger.jpg
 
  • #679
  • #680
The suspense is brutal!
I'm very disappointed, too. His image is now burned in my brain. If justice can't be had for him, he at least should be given the dignity of his name.
 
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