The Vidocq Society last week held its annual memorial tribute and birthday remembrance for Joseph Augustus Zarelli, known as “The Boy in the Box” and “America’s Unknown Child” until he was identified in 2022.
Joseph was born on Jan. 13, 1953 and would have turned 72 last Monday. He is buried at Ivy Hill Cemetery, 1201 Easton Road.
Joseph’s abandoned, lifeless body was found in 1957 on the 700 block of Susquehanna Road (just west of Verree Road) in Fox Chase, a rural area at the time. He was found in a bassinet box from the JC Penney in Upper Darby, having been killed by blunt force trauma.
As no one reported Joseph missing or claimed him after he was found, he was buried in trash-filled Potter’s Field at 12898 Dunks Ferry Road in Parkwood.
Police, though, never forgot the case.
In 1998, his body was exhumed in a search for forensic evidence. After that, the Vidocq Society moved his remains to Ivy Hill and erected a monument.
Thanks to work by detectives, modern forensics, the Medical Examiner’s office and Identifinders International, police in December 2022 announced his identity and birth date. He was 4 when he died and, according to police, lived near 61st and Market streets. Joseph’s parents are deceased, police have said.
Police have not determined who killed Joseph.
After Joseph was identified, Vidocq worked to erect a grave marker with the help of Ivy Hill and DeChristopher Brothers – Monuments & Memorials.
Last week’s gathering took place at Joseph’s gravesite.
Bill Fleisher, a co-founder of the Vidocq Society – which assists law enforcement in solving cold cases – presented plaques to Charles DeChristopher, a partner in the monument company, and Dave Drysdale, secretary/treasurer at Ivy Hill.
Interestingly, Drysdale’s dad and Betsy Abel, who is believed to be Joseph’s mother, were part of the 1949 graduating class at Murrell Dobbins High School. Betsy even signed David Drysdale’s yearbook.
Inspired by the identification of Joseph, Fleisher and the Vidocq Society announced the launch of the America’s Unknown Child Initiative, aimed at identifying unknown child homicide victims across the nation.
To donate to the initiative, go to vidocq.org/donate
Today on the 700 block of Susquehanna Road, a private historical marker stands in memory of Joseph. Delaware Eagle Scout Nicholas Kerschbaum, who worked to erect the marker, attended last week’s ceremony, along with his dad, Warren.
Also on hand was retired homicide unit Sgt. Bob Kuhlmeier, one of the many police investigators over the years who worked to identify Joseph. ••
