The Philadelphia police have finally identified the victim of the 1957 murder case known as the “Boy in the Box.” The 4-year-old boy, named Joseph Augustus Zarelli, was found brutally beaten to death in Philadelphia’s Fox Chase neighborhood in February 1957. Despite the identification of the victim, police say that proving who killed him will be an “uphill battle.” Detectives have located the boy’s family and know the identities of his now-deceased parents, but have not disclosed who they believe may be responsible for the murder. The case remains open and the police still hope to someday pin the murder on a suspect.

The break in the case came via recent DNA technology and with the assistance of volunteers who helped police narrow down the victim’s possible relatives. However, due to the passage of time, many potential witnesses are now deceased. “It’s going to be an uphill battle for us to definitively determine who caused this child’s death,” said Philadelphia police Capt. Jason Smith. “If this technology had been available to us 20 years ago, it might be a completely different story — because once you identify who the child is, you start (interviewing) family members. Well at this point of time, a lot of the family members who would have been old enough to have a memory of any incident that might have occurred are normally long gone.”

For the past 6 and a half decades, not only has no one been held accountable for Joseph’s slaying, but his very identity was unknown. Generations of Philadelphians had come to know the young victim simply as the “Boy in the Box.” The cold case was reopened in recent years when volunteers with the Vidocq Society, a Philadelphia crime-solving club, extended a crucial helping hand to police.

The child lived in West Philadelphia, near Market and 61st Streets. Police declined to reveal any details about the victim’s family or even characterize the reaction of Joseph’s loved ones when detectives told them about their findings. “Joseph has a number of siblings … who are living and it is out of respect for them that their parents’ information remaining confidential,” said Smith. “Do we know who is responsible for Joseph’s death? The answer, at this time, is unfortunately ‘no.’ We have our suspicions as to who may be responsible. But it would be irresponsible for me to share those suspicions as this remains and active and ongoing criminal investigation.”