boy in a box

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

Philadelphia's 'Boy in the Box' FINALLY gets a headstone engraved with his name

Joseph Augustus Zarelli, previously known as Philadelphia's 'Boy in the Box,' got a proper headstone on Friday, on what would have been his 70th birthday
Zarelli was only four-years-old when his dead body was found naked, beaten and stuffed inside a carboard box in the streets in 1957

The boy's remains had been transferred from Philadelphia's Potter's Field to the Ivy Hill cemetery in 1998.

Last month, workers at Ivy Hill spoke out expressing gratitude that the victim's gravestone will soon carry the boy's real name.

'I think it's wonderful,' Dave Drysdale, Ivy Hill's cemetery secretary and treasurer, told KYW-TV.

'Some day, there will be a name on there and it will be great,' Drysdale said. 'It will be great.'

'I just wish that the police officers and all the people involved who long passed away were still here to see it because that was one of their goals, and a couple of them said "I hope they live long enough to see a name put on there."'

skatting44 · ‎07-26-2019

So many children are victims to horrible crimes.

Wish they could have traced who beat and murdered this poor boy

DottieBlue · ‎03-11-2010

I thought there was a previous thread on this. The parents are long dead and there are some siblings still alive but they said they didn't remember him. I don't think he was ever reported missing. But I could be not remembering this correctly. Poor little guy.

KBEANS · ‎06-08-2020

Rest In Peace Joseph.

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

Absolutely heart breaking! Heartfelt thanks to those who persevered to get the headstone and final resting place.

walkingal · ‎03-09-2010

This is such a sad story and very upsetting. I can't imagine what his four years here on earth were like. Besides being found nude and beaten, I read his hair had been crudely cut. I wonder if law enforcement received any new tips after this story was released. Joseph...what a beautiful name. Rest in Peace, Joseph.