Police begin DNA work on 94-year-old Boxcar Boy remains

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police began the process of identifying the remains of the unknown boy known as Boxcar Boy on Monday.

The investigation marks the first major step in nearly a century of effort to determine the identity of the child buried in Elmwood Cemetery. The headstone at the site, located just outside Uptown Charlotte, has read Unknown Boy since 1932.

Detective Matt Hefner of the CMPD cold case homicide unit oversees the case. Hefner said the boy was likely train hopping during the Great Depression. He explained that the cargo train load shifted, causing steel beams to crush the boy while he rode inside. Crews found him in Charlotte after the train doors were opened.

Caireen Binder, director of the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center at Ramapo College, is leading the genetic analysis. She said the team has a strong chance of identifying the boy because solid remains are present. These remains should allow the team to extract DNA and create a profile.

Binder stated it will take three to six months to extract the DNA and build the genetic profile. Once complete, the profile will be uploaded to several databases to search for family matches. She noted that surviving siblings, nieces, or nephews may still be seeking answers about their lost relative.

Hefner said the case is old enough that finding the family could provide a compelling historical story. He expressed hope that the work will allow the family to hear the boy's story and put a period on the sentence of his life.

Police said that if relatives are located, they will decide where the boy is buried. If he remains in Charlotte and is named, the department will install a new headstone with his name.