In a Philadelphian cemetery, sits a headstone labeled “America’s Unknown Child.” The surrounding land is covered with stuffed animals, as a remembrance of the unidentified young boy who was tragically murdered.
Discovery
In 1957, a muskrat hunter set out to check his traps near a park just north of Philadelphia. While searching through the brush, he found a small cardboard box lying on the ground. Inside the box was the naked body of a young boy, wrapped in a plaid blanket. Fearing that if he were to report it to the police and they would confiscate his traps, he ignored it and kept hunting. Several days later a college student was driving down a road when he saw a bunny alongside the highway. Knowing there were traps in the area he stopped to make sure the bunny was safe. In the middle of searching in the underbrush for the bunny, he found the box and alerted the police.
Who Was the Boy?
The boy found in the box was between the ages of 3 and 7. The police assumed because of his young age he would be quickly identified, except they did not realize that the condition of the boys body would make this task difficult. When the boy was found his body was scrawny, dirty, and malnourished. His hair was matted and recently cut. The body was covered with surgical scars, most notably on his ankle, groin, and chin. Police finger printed him hoping to determine his identity, but they were unsuccessful. Over the next several years, over 400,000 flyers were sent out around Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. Forensic facial reconstruction was done showing a happy young boy. This face was put on the flyers, but still no one came forward and identified the boy. The crime was searched multiple times and they only found pieces of children’s clothing, but nothing gave them any leads. Decades later the boy in the box’s identity still remains a mystery to law enforcement and the general population.
Theory #1
In 1960, an employee of the medical examiner’s office was told by a psychic that the boy was from a local foster home. The police went to the foster home and found blankets similar to the one the young boy was wrapped in. Also, found a bassinet that was sold in the same box that the boy was found in. Medical examiner employee theorized that the boy was the son of the daughter of the man who ran the foster home and his death was an accident. No connection was ever made between the boy and foster home, so this theory was dismissed.
Theory #2
40 years after the discovery of the boy in the box, a women referred to as “M” came forward saying that the boy was purchased by her abusive mother and was abused for several years. One night the boy vomited up his dinner of baked beans and the mother bashed his head against the wall as punishment, then tried to bathe him, during which he died. Police followed the lead because there were remains of baked beans in the boys stomach and his fingers were water wrinkled, and this information was not told to the public. The theory was eventually let go, as they were unable to verify M’s claims and after looking into her background they found a history of mental illness.
There have been many theories about the boy in the box, but each one has been dissolved and to this day the identity of the boy in the box still remains unknown.
Works Cited
Pictures- https://allthatsinteresting.com/boy-in-the-box