Officer who found ‘Boy in the Box’ dies

It was 1957 when Elmer Palmer found the body of a young boy in a box in an undeveloped wooded area of Northeast Philadelphia. His 50 years of investigation into the case have come to an end. Palmer died this week at the age of 83.

A police officer at the time, Palmer was the first to find the “Boy in the Box,” a toddler who would never be identified, despite decades of searching and work with the Vidocq Society.

The Daily News’ obituary recounts the details of Palmer’s life and work.