PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A terrible mystery, now partially solved. The “boy in the box” is identified like Joseph August Zarrelli, all thanks to the tireless work of detectives and genealogists.
“I actually knew about this case from childhood. I followed true crime and was interested in it…,” said Misty Gillis, forensic genealogist at Identifier International.
Gillis is a forensic genealogist with Identifier International and has spent the past three years diligently working to name “America’s unknown child.”
RELATED: Philadelphia police have identified the child known as “Boy in the Box” as Joseph Augusto Zarrelli
She and her two young daughters visited Joseph’s grave on Thursday to bring him toy cars from the 1950s.
“It was very personal for me because I have young children around the same age as Joseph,” Gillis said.
Now that his name has been cleared, she said it’s time for his story, as traumatic as it is, to come out.
“I want his story to be told. I want it published in the world to do him justice,” Gillis said.
Ivy Hill Cemetery officials said there are plans to have Joseph’s name engraved on his headstone. The date and time were not announced.
RELATED: ‘Give him some dignity’: Bucks police chief recalls working on ‘Boy in the Box’ case
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