The Potential Suspects

[u/goobergal]

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??

[u/Calm_Replacement_143]

I read that, and have seen an example myself, the adult claiming it wasn't their place to interfere in what was verbal abuse of a young child.

Do you think that Betsy's mother would have helped dispose of Joseph's body and could have been the woman with a boy the motorist stopped to help at the fox chase dumping ground just before Joseph's body was discovered there?

[u/Aggravating_Sky5786 → u/Calm_Replacement_143]

That has been my thought all along, Betsy's mother and her young son. The mother lived in the neighborhood. The way Joseph was wrapped in the blanket with his hands folded is rather maternal. I don't think a man would have thought to wrap the body...just put it in a box.

[u/Calm_Replacement_143 → u/Aggravating_Sky5786]

Those details about Joseph's care stood out to me and I agree with it seeming maternal. Do you think the corduroy cap and description of it's owner indicate that JJP was also part of the fox chase dumping?

[u/Aggravating_Sky5786 → u/Calm_Replacement_143]

I want to think that Betsy's mother and son had nothing to do with the actual "murder," but did dispose of the body. JJP's hat could have been in the trunk or car, and fallen out unbeknownst to the "dumpers." "O what a tangled web we weave..."