At a Glance
- The Vidocq Society announced a national initiative to identify unidentified child murder victims
- The group will use DNA testing and genetic genealogy across the United States
- The effort expands on their work identifying Joseph Augustus Zarelli, the “Boy in the Box”
- Why it matters: The society aims to give names to children who have been buried anonymously for decades
The Vidocq Society has launched a nationwide effort to identify unidentified children who were victims of murder, building on their success identifying Joseph Augustus Zarelli, the 4-year-old known for 65 years as “America’s Unknown Child.”
From One Child to a National Mission
During a ceremony marking what would have been Zarelli’s 73rd birthday, the volunteer group announced plans to help identify anonymous child victims across the country using DNA testing, genetic genealogy and other forensic methods.
“There are children, America’s children, that something tragic happened years ago and their bodies were found and nobody knew who they were,” said Bill Fleisher of the Vidocq Society. “As was the case with Joey.”
The society, which provides assistance to law enforcement in resolving cold cases, emphasized that while they don’t conduct investigations themselves, they offer consultation services to agencies working to identify remains.
“We don’t do investigations, we consult,” Fleisher explained.
The Case That Started It All
Zarelli’s identification in 2022 ended one of Philadelphia’s most haunting mysteries. His beaten, malnourished body was found naked in a cardboard box in the Fox Chase neighborhood in February 1957, stuffed inside a box that once contained a bassinet from J.C. Penney.
For decades, the boy lay buried in a grave marked “America’s Unknown Child” – a haunting reminder of an unsolved murder that captivated Philadelphia and the nation. The case remained cold for 65 years until the Vidocq Society, working with Philadelphia police, used advanced DNA testing and genealogical research to finally give the child his name back.
“He’s a symbol of all the children that haven’t been identified yet, and the idea that they can be identified if the right resources and efforts are put forth in investigating these America’s unknown children,” Fleisher said.
A Personal Connection
The “Boy in the Box” case has gripped Fleisher since his own childhood in Philadelphia. He was just 13 years old when he first saw the boy’s photograph displayed in the window of the Penn Fruit Company on City Line Avenue, dressed in clothes provided by a homicide detective’s wife.
“It was the first dead body I ever saw,” Fleisher recalled. “I was shocked, I never saw anything like that.”
This early encounter with the unidentified child’s tragic fate stayed with Fleisher throughout his life, eventually leading him to become involved with the Vidocq Society and their efforts to solve cold cases.
The Long Road to Identification
The journey to identify Zarelli spanned decades and involved multiple generations of investigators. Philadelphia police, working with the Vidocq Society and other agencies, employed cutting-edge DNA technology that didn’t exist when the boy’s body was first discovered.
The breakthrough came through genetic genealogy – a technique that combines DNA analysis with family tree research to identify potential relatives of unidentified individuals. This method has revolutionized how cold cases are solved, allowing investigators to identify victims and perpetrators even when traditional methods have failed.
Despite the successful identification, Zarelli’s murder remains unsolved. No one has ever been charged with his death, and the case remains open in the Philadelphia Police Department. Fleisher called it “the longest investigated, unsolved homicide” in Philadelphia history.
Expanding the Mission
The society’s new initiative aims to replicate their success with Zarelli on a national scale. By offering their expertise in DNA analysis and genealogical research, they hope to help law enforcement agencies across the country identify anonymous child victims.
The group will focus on cases where children were found murdered but never identified, working with whatever evidence is available – from skeletal remains to preserved tissue samples. Their goal is to provide closure for families who have spent decades wondering what happened to missing children.
This expansion represents a significant broadening of the Vidocq Society’s mission, moving from individual cold case consultations to systematic efforts to identify all of America’s unknown child victims.
The Challenge Ahead
The scale of the challenge is enormous. Across the United States, dozens – perhaps hundreds – of unidentified child victims lie buried in unmarked graves, their families never knowing their fate. Many of these cases date back decades, to a time before DNA technology existed.
The society’s work will involve coordinating with multiple law enforcement agencies, medical examiners’ offices, and forensic laboratories. They’ll need to locate remains, extract viable DNA samples, and conduct genealogical research that can span generations.
Each identification requires painstaking work, often taking months or years to complete. But for families of missing children, the effort represents their best hope for answers after decades of uncertainty.
Key Takeaways
- The Vidocq Society has identified Joseph Augustus Zarelli, solving a 65-year-old cold case
- They’re now expanding to help identify anonymous child murder victims nationwide
- The group will provide DNA testing and genealogical research to law enforcement agencies
- Zarelli’s case remains unsolved, but his identification gives hope to other families awaiting answers
