"The Boy in the Box"
Type of Case: Child Homocide
Date Body Discovered: February 25, 1957
Place of Discovery: Suschehanna Road, Philadelphia, PA
The case of "the boy in the box" is one of the most famous and widely researched cases. Even after decades of constant search, numerous interrogations and hundreds of dedicated professionals this case has not been solved. The mystery behind this case is so great that not a single investigator, detective or family member has been able to correctly identify the young boy, therefore he is known as, and might forever be, "America's Unknown Child".
In 1957, on a rural road named Susquehanna Road in Fox Chase, Philadelphia, a box from a nearby J. C. Penney store was found. The first person known to have reported the box was a young man named Frederick J. Benonis. At the time he was a 27 year old student at LaSalle College in Philadelphia. He first found the box on a Monday afternoon on February 25, 1957, accidentally. In his report to the police he said that he was driving along the road to Good Sheppard School when he spotted a rabbit that ran in to the bushes. He stopped his car and chased the rabbit and found a mysterious box a couple of feet off the road. He opened the box, looked inside and, to his surprise, found the naked body of a small child. Frederick did not report his finding the same day but after talking to some faculty members in his school he decided to call the next day.
Police thoroughly interrogated Frederick and found out the reason why he did not call immediately. As a habit, Frederick would drive up to Good Sheppard School for Wayward Girls to spy on young women. This could have explained why he hesitated to talk since his school is catholic based and his habit could have had a negative impact on himself. He was considered the primary suspect but after extensive questioning and a lie detector test he was found innocent. This was good news for the unfortunate young man who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time but for the boy found it was just the start of a long unresolved case.
Date Body Discovered: February 25, 1957
Place of Discovery: Suschehanna Road, Philadelphia, PA
The case of "the boy in the box" is one of the most famous and widely researched cases. Even after decades of constant search, numerous interrogations and hundreds of dedicated professionals this case has not been solved. The mystery behind this case is so great that not a single investigator, detective or family member has been able to correctly identify the young boy, therefore he is known as, and might forever be, "America's Unknown Child".
In 1957, on a rural road named Susquehanna Road in Fox Chase, Philadelphia, a box from a nearby J. C. Penney store was found. The first person known to have reported the box was a young man named Frederick J. Benonis. At the time he was a 27 year old student at LaSalle College in Philadelphia. He first found the box on a Monday afternoon on February 25, 1957, accidentally. In his report to the police he said that he was driving along the road to Good Sheppard School when he spotted a rabbit that ran in to the bushes. He stopped his car and chased the rabbit and found a mysterious box a couple of feet off the road. He opened the box, looked inside and, to his surprise, found the naked body of a small child. Frederick did not report his finding the same day but after talking to some faculty members in his school he decided to call the next day.
Police thoroughly interrogated Frederick and found out the reason why he did not call immediately. As a habit, Frederick would drive up to Good Sheppard School for Wayward Girls to spy on young women. This could have explained why he hesitated to talk since his school is catholic based and his habit could have had a negative impact on himself. He was considered the primary suspect but after extensive questioning and a lie detector test he was found innocent. This was good news for the unfortunate young man who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time but for the boy found it was just the start of a long unresolved case.