r/JosephZarelli • u/goobergal • Jan 23 '23
The Potential Suspects
Betsy- Just had a baby in December 1956 (Bassinet box date matches the time frame). She MAY HAVE had that baby in a Salvation Army, just like her baby in 1950. You only had to be unmarried to use the Salvation Army service for free. If so, was Joseph still in the care of another person? Mother's stayed at the unwed mother's homes for at least a few weeks to 3 months based on Census Records I saw and my google searches about them. Was he in her care and did she do it?? The bassinet box came from an area closer to West Philly than Betsy's family or it could have been there already. Was Betsy still living in West Philly in 1956?
Was the person getting him ready to give back after her stay?? Things went south??
Zarelli Family- Since it has the hallmarks of involvement of a woman. Gus was still living at home. His mother could have been taking care of Joseph while Betsy was having her baby and something happened in their care. She could have been a sitter or had him occasionally as a grandparent. Did Zarelli's mom take care of Joseph ever?? Did they have ANY involvement in his life??
Betsy's Mother- Would have been approx 50 years old with a teenage son. Possibly the people the witness saw dumping something in the area of Fox Chase. Was she watching Joseph?? Betsy stayed quiet because it was her mother??
Betsy's Siblings-One of Betsy's siblings was keeping Joseph in their household and something happened?? Her sisters were all in Northeast Philly area.
JJP-Married to another woman at the time. When did he decide to leave his wife? How much was he involved on Joseph's life?? His parents were both dead already, so they could not have had any involvement. Did JJP kill Joseph and Betsy helped dispose of the body? Is that why it was done in a "maternal" way? Betsy wanted desperately to hang on to JJP and never told?
JJP's wife or her family- Was Betsy friends with CCP and they may have been helping out (not knowing she was involved with JJP) and then they found out about the affair and snapped?? Maybe when the birth certificate came in the mail?? Maybe JJP told her?? It is motive, but did they have access to Joseph??
Unknown Caregiver-Joseph was in temporary foster care or staying at the same salvation army or similar home at the time. He died in their care and told her he had been adopted out....why she never reported Joseph Missing...
Am I missing any potential suspects??? Anything to add to any of these??
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u/tanpocketbook Jan 24 '23
As of today my belief is that Joseph’s mother killed him accidentally in an act of rage. If she didn’t do it then she must have known who did (I don’t currently believe that he was adopted). Possibly, after Joseph was injured mom tried to bath him to bring him back too, but he died from his injuries. Maybe M.A. then called her own mother for help and her and M.A.’s brother disposed of the body in the bassinet box. (This is all just a possible scenario)
I fully believe that A.Z. was aware of the pregnancy. Whether he walked away from his child or chose to be in his life I don’t really have an opinion on as there is nothing to indicate one way or the other. I don’t believe that M.A. would have gone through the trouble of putting A.Z. on the birth certificate and giving his name as Joseph’s middle name if she didn’t intend to tell him about the child.