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

[arielilane]

This remains an active investigation. Four siblings on each side.

 

[alucardsdream]

If they've matched the DNA, how can they contest it? Do they think another family member is Joseph's biological father.

Police just said it's been established through genetic testing and not up for debate.

 

[MountainLover]

61st and Market Street area is the specific area

 

[fred&edna]

For some reason, I just want to call him "Joey".

 

[arielilane]

Back then it was not the norm to get a SSN. Nowadays it is the norm, to request SSN at the time your child is born. IMO

Edit: clarification

 

[txsleuth70]

Sad if the siblings were old enough to "miss" him, yet even as adults didn't report to someone. I get childhood trauma, but many victims find some strength as an adult.

 

[Jenny0101]

For some reason, I just want to call him "Joey".

Me too!

 

[Chelly]

He had just turned 4 years old when discovered in 1957.
He had siblings on "both sides".
His father's name is on birth certificate.

(per news conference today Dec. 8, 2022)

 

[Jenny0101]

Like the pine trees linin' the windin' road
I've got a name, I've got a name
Like the singin' bird and the croakin' toad
I've got a name, I've got a name

R.I.P., Joey.

 

[wary]

“Siblings on both sides” sounds as though his father and mother may have gone their way living separate lives? So that raises the possibility that he was not raised by his parents, and that his parents might not have known what happened to him?

Just my speculation

 

[Nell91]

Sorry- I forgot this bit of info- was the father on the birth certificate, or found through DNA? If it's the latter I have a theory, if not I'm stumped

 

[alucardsdream]

My guess would be that Joseph's parents weren't married...they never announced either parent's name and I would be hesitant to assume who the actual parents are. Just because there's a man with a similar name doesn't mean he is definitely the father...and even if he is, it doesn't mean the woman he was married to was the mother. This could have been a child born out of wedlock year before he got married.

 

[Astrach99]

Police just said it's been established through genetic testing and not up for debate.

I understand that. I can't understand why the biological father's family are apparently denying this if there is DNA evidence.

 

[Jordan72]

did they say he had older siblings specifically? I didn’t catch if they were alive at the time of his death or not.

 

[ntt1]

I'm surprised that nobody asked if the siblings were aware of his existence, or something similar.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Sorry, I had to take a phone call (stupid work!). Did they announce the parents' names?

LE has stated they're not announcing the names of his parents.

 

[spacedcurls]

Sorry- I forgot this bit of info- was the father on the birth certificate, or found through DNA? If it's the latter I have a theory, if not I'm stumped

Both, I believe.

 

[Nell91]

I'm guessing the contesting of paternity is because Joseph was kept a secret even by his father.

 

[MountainLover]

I thought they said the bio dad's name is on little Joseph's birth certificate.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

Not releasing the parents’ names in this press conference will now result in the media staking out every Zarelli between Philadelphia and West Chester. Unfortunate.

That's not that far of a distance