“The Boy in the Box” “America’s Unknown Child”

1. “The Boy in the Box”“America’s Unknown Child” Kiersten McElwain

2. Who was the victim? • A little boy, roughly said to be 4-5 years old • 55 years after the boy was found, still no positive I.D. has been determined

3. Where/when was the body found? • Susquehanna Road, Philadelphia, PA • Also known as the “Fox Chase” section • Body was found February 25, 1957 • Police were called the next day

4. What steps were taken? • Forensic scientists collected all evidence they thought was significant at the scene • During the autopsy, the coroner found bruising all over his body, Livor Mortis (blood settles after death), footprints, fingerprints, & abrasions • His right hand and both feet had the “washerwoman” effect (wrinkles due to attempted drowning) • Photos were taken of the boy, the scene, the evidence, etc. • Time of Death (TOD): not 100% sure, due to weather • Cause of Death was multiple blows to the head

5. Technological Problems • DNA analysis technology wasn’t as good as it is now • Didn’t have computers or TV or Internet to try and figure out who the boy was

6. Evidence (1957) • Cardboard box marked “fragile” • A faded flannel blanket • A man’s cap (blue) • A boys’ clothing and shoes, relatively the size of the young boy EVIDENCE (1998) • DNA extract from remains (too degraded for microscopic analysis)

7. Official Figures Involved • Frank Bender (forensic sculptor: a bust of the boy’s supposed father) • Remington Bristow (investigator in the M.E.’s office) • The FBI (made case top priority, DNA analysis) • John J. Kelly (chief inspector) • William H. Kelly (Philadelphia Police Dept. I.D. Unit) • Dr. Wilton M. Krogman (professor of physical anthropology asked to examine the body) • Joseph McGillan (investigator w/ M.E.’s office since ‘56) • Elmer Palmer (first officer at the scene) • Captain David H. Roberts (head of homicide squad) • Dr. Joseph W. Spelman (Medical Examiner {M.E.}) • Sam Weinstein (second officer on scene)

8. Possible Suspects • Fredrick J. Benonis (found the body on February 25, 1957; peeping tom; reported it the day after) • George Broomall, Marine Private First Class (thought the boy might be his “missing” eight-year-old brother; boy was not his brother) • Foster Family (only 1.5 miles from the scene) • Florida Claimants (thought their mom was the boy’s mother; DNA did not match) • Ohio Informant (“M”) (described the “murder” in detail; police weren’t sure where it lead) • Private Edward J. Posivak (detained & questioned, submitted to a lie detector test {results were negative})

9. Things that left the case open • Police were never able to identify the boy, or able to find any family members to claim the body • Case opened in 1957 and remains open in 2012 “CONSPIRACIES”/ BOOKS/ MOVIES? • “City of Brotherly Mayhem” by Ron Avery (1997) (book) • “The Boy in the Box” by David Stout (2008) (book)

10. Images Arrow shows where boy was found

11. Images (right) the box the boy was in (below) 10-year anniversary of boy’s death, Remington Bristow was in attendance (above) some of the bruises found on the boy’s body (bottom right) another angle of where boy was found