Mystery of 'Boy in the Box' Sparks Various Theories Over Six Decades

The Philadelphia Police department are preparing to release the identity of the "Boy in the Box," putting an end to a 65-year-old Philadelphia mystery, but what are some of the theories that have arisen over the years?

The identity of the boy, who was left dead in a box in Philadelphia, has garnered attention from the police and public for decades.

On February 25, 1957, a boy between the ages of three and seven was found dead, naked and beaten lying in a cardboard box on the side of Susquehanna Road in the neighborhood of Fox Chase in Philadelphia.

New DNA evidence has allowed police to identity the boy and find his birth certificate according to reports. A press conference where the details will be revealed is planned for this week.

Since his discovery, the Philadelphia police department has attempted to identify him and piece together what happened. Multiple theories have been suggested and disproved over the years.

Foster Home Theory

This theory concerns a foster home that was located within two miles of the site where the body was found.

The theory alleges that the boy was the child of a woman whose father ran the foster home.

This theory came about around 1960 after an employee of the medical examiner's office, Remington Bristow, spoke to a New Jersey psychic about the case.

When the psychic was brought to the site where the body was found, she led Bristow directly to the foster home.

While attending an estate sale at the foster home, Bristow found blankets hanging on the clothesline that were similar to the one in which the boy's body had been wrapped in when he was discovered.

Bristow believed the boy belonged to the stepdaughter of the man who ran the foster home and that the body was disposed of so the stepdaughter would not be exposed as an unwed mother.

Police were able to establish that all the home's foster children were accounted for, however. They also confirmed that the family who ran the foster home was unlikely to be involved.

Martha/ 'M' Theory

Another theory that grew popular was the Martha or "M" theory in 2002. It involved a woman saying she and her mother were involved in the child's death.

Martha was able to give information and details known only to the police. However, because of her history of mental illness, they remained unconvinced.

Martha claimed her abusive mother had purchased the unknown boy from his birth parents in the summer of 1954.

From then on he was subject to physical and sexual abuse. She added that on one occasion the boy had vomited up his dinner of baked beans and was severely beaten as a result.

He was allegedly given a bath following the beating and died. The coroner had found the boy's stomach contained the remains of baked beans and his fingers were water-wrinkled.

Despite the possibility of the claims made by Martha, police were unable to verify her story.

In addition to this, neighbors of her, during the stated time period, denied that a young boy had lived in her home during the time in question and deemed her claims as "ridiculous."

Raised as a Girl Theory

Another theory came from forensic artist Frank Bender.

He suggested that the boy in the box may have been raised as a girl. He highlighted the child's unprofessional haircut, which appeared to have been done in haste. This was the basis for this theory.

In addition to this were his eyebrows, which appeared to be styled.

In 2008, Bender released a sketch of the child with long hair. This theory has remained one of the most consistent theories on social media.

When contacted by Newsweek, a Philadelphia police department spokesperson said they do not have any releasable information at this time.

They noted that they do expect to "provide a significant update on this case in the near future."