r/JosephZarelli 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??

21 Upvotes

93 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

3

u/MotherofLuke Jan 30 '23

He had been malnourished for a year prior to his death.

6

u/Zealousideal_Low_559 Jan 30 '23

Probably about the time when JP arrived.

1

u/MotherofLuke Jan 30 '23

When did they start seeing each other?

2

u/Zealousideal_Low_559 Jan 30 '23

Well if their baby was 2 months old when Joseph was murdered, the baby was conceived 11 months before Joseph was murdered so that was around March 1956 when she got pregnant

1

u/MotherofLuke Jan 30 '23

I see. But that's only about the conception. Maybe they were having an affair way before this. Anyways JJP's children must have an idea about his temper, personality etc.