Fox Chase in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

America’s Unknown Child

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 2, 2022

1. America's Unknown Child Marker

Inscription. February 26, 1957, Police Officers Elmer Palmer and Samuel Weinstein responded to the then rural Susquehanna Road to investigate a report of a body found in a box. there they discovered the naked, battered body of a small boy believed to be 4 to 6 years old. This unknown child became known as the "Boy in a Box." He has never been identified. His case remains open. He is now called "America's Unknown Child".

Erected 2017 by Nicholas P. Kerschbaum, as an Eagle Scout Service Project, with the support of the Vidocq Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is February 26, 1957.

Location. 40° 4.943′ N, 75° 4.318′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Fox Chase. Marker is on Susquehanna Road west of Ernest Way, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 722 Susquehanna Rd, Philadelphia PA 19111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Knowlton (approx. 0.7 miles away); Fox Chase and Rockledge World War Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); World War II Honor Roll (approx. one mile away); Pennepack Baptist Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); a different marker also named Pennepack Baptist Church

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(approx. 1.1 miles away); Anna Thomas Jeanes (approx. 1.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Gilbert Motier DeLafayette (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . . Waves of speculation followed the release of Joseph A. Zarelli’s name. 2022 article by Jason Mark, Wendy Rudderman, Max Marin and William Bender in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Boy in the Box has been named. Excerpt:

[Misty] Gillis, who ultimately identified Joseph, said she was not involved in the decision to release his name, but felt police made the right decision. Though the boy suffered a fatal beating 65 years ago, Gillis said putting his name out to the public might “jog someone’s memory” — maybe someone who babysat for him or grew up with him in West Philadelphia. Detectives, she said, hope that fresh leads will help piece together who killed Joseph, even if whoever is responsible is no longer alive.

“Charges can’t be brought against the person, but it can be solved,” she said. “I think having the public record out there of it being solved is just as important.”

(Submitted on December 15, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 2, 2022

2. America's Unknown Child Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 773 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 5, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.