Joseph Augustus Zarelli

“In his very short life, it was apparent that this child experienced horrors that no one should ever be subjected to,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle ...

Police have identified the "Boy in the Box," whose body was first discovered in February 1957.

Philadelphia police identified the child known as the "boy in the box" on Thursday as Joseph Augustus Zarelli.

The victim in Philadelphia's oldest unsolved homicide, referred to as "The Boy in the Box" case, has been identified as Joseph Augustus Zarelli. Officials say ...

A Christmas break up and a DNA kit helped identify one of Philadelphia's most notorious unidentified victims.

For 65 years, a little boy had no name, just an unmarked grave at Ivy Hill Cemetery. Until now.

"You sort of network them together in a self-consistent way like a big Sudoku puzzle," she said. Fitzpatrick said Zarelli's DNA was "like confetti." Working with an outside agency, police learned about a genetic connection to Zarelli more than a year ago. "With typical DNA processing, our scientists in the lab examined 24 areas along DNA to develop a profile. Since he was buried in 1957, she said his DNA was "basically shot, he had little pieces." Sources say his lifeless body was found placed in a bassinet box. With advancements in DNA technology, it is possible to examine thousands of areas along your DNA," Gallagher said. 8](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/joseph-augustus-zarelli-the-boy-in-the-box-identification-police/). [said in April 2021](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/the-boy-in-the-box-ivy-hill-cemetery-unsolved-murder-philadelphia/). [finally identified the boy](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/the-boy-in-the-box-americas-unknown-child-philadelphia-police-name/). [case on TV and online](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/the-boy-in-the-box-ivy-hill-cemetery-unsolved-murder-philadelphia/). [The Boy in The Box](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/tag/the-boy-in-the-box/)" has finally been identified as 4-year-old [Joseph Augustus Zarelli](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/boy-in-box-joseph-zarelli/).

After more than six decades, Philadelphia police identified a young homicide victim who was found dead in a cardboard box: 4-year-old.

As with all homicides, there is a standing $20k reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect. I am grateful to the investigators, scientists, and medical personnel who worked so tirelessly on this case.” Authorities said Zarelli was exhumed in 2019 to get material for additional DNA studies, authorities said. “For sixty-five years, the story of America’s Unknown child has haunted this community, the Philadelphia Police Department, our nation, and the world,” Outlaw said. [Speaking at a press conference on Thursday](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRTghh6NUfI), Smith said police have suspicions about who killed Zarelli, but it was irresponsible to share those suspicions during the ongoing investigation. After more than six decades, Philadelphia police identified a young homicide victim who was found dead in a cardboard box.