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Cold Case: Boy in the Box

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The 1958 death of an unknown 6-year-old boy found in a field inside a cardboard box is reinvestigated after a small suitcase with the child's picture and his old cowboy hat is left in front of a church. The new probe reveals that the rowdy boy lived at a Catholic-run orphanage and was adopted two days before his suspicious demise. Read full recap »

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Writers:: Meredith Stiehm

Director:: Karen Gaviola

Stars:: Jeremy Ratchford (Det. Nick Vera); Danny Pino (Scotty Valens); Thom Barry (Det. Will Jeffries); John Finn (Lt. John Stillman); Kathryn Morris (Det. Lilly Rush)

Recurring Role:: Marisol Nichols (Elisa)

Guest Star:: Autumn Reeser (Sister Grace (1958)); Samantha Eggar (Sister Vivian (2003)); Johanna Watts (Sister Vivian (1958)); Blaire Restaneo (Gretchen (1958)); Molly Cheek (Gretchen (2003)); Lyndon Smith (Arnold (1958)); Garrett M. Brown (Roger (2003)); Andrew Heald (Roger/"Cowboy" (1958)); Charles Noland (Walter (2003)); Dave Michael Beaudrie (Walter (1958)); Brent Schraff (Dr. Thayer (1958)); Delaney Williams (Fred Baker (1958)); Justin Roney ("Indian" (1958)); Jason Frasca (Young Man (1958)); Ryan Tasz (Clayton Weathers (1958)); Jacqueline Scott (Sally Bower (2003)); Bruce Gray (Dr. Thayer (2003)); Gathering Marbet (Young Woman (1958))

Arnold died on April 4, 1958. edit »
Goof: Sister Vivian says that Sister Grace was pregnant at age 18. However, according to the tombstones, Grace was born in 1936 and Arnold in 1952, which would have made Grace 16 when Arnold was born. edit »

International Airdates:
- Denmark: April 14, 2004 on TV3+ edit »
The contemporary Sister Vivian is played by Samantha Eggar, who, despite the Irish accent used in this episode, is English. edit »
Music Featured in This Episode:
- You're the Nearest Thing to Heaven to Johnny Cash
- All I Have to Do Is Dream by The Everly Brothers
- Walkin' After Midnight by Patsy Cline
- Poor Little Fool by Rick Nelson
- Catch a Falling Star by Perry Como
- Lonesome Town by Rick Nelson
- Sweeter Than You by Rick Nelson edit »

Sister Vivian: Sister Grace... She wasn't a good nun.
Scotty: No kidding. edit »
Det. Rush: Do you know Clayton Weathers?
Sister Vivian: He was Grace's ruin. edit »
Sister Vivian: There are no cows in the woods.
Arnold: That's what you think! edit »
Det. Rush: Could Grace have hurt Arnold?
Sister Vivian: Grace? Some stories shouldn't be told. edit »
Fred Banks: Sister Vivian was pretty cruel... but murder? edit »

The Boy in the Box
This episode has many very close similarities to the real-life "The Boy in the Box" case. In 1957, an anonymous boy was found in a box, wrapped in a blanket in Fox Chase, Philadelphia. Many of the items and contents of this episode bear striking resemblance to the posters made to help try to identify this boy, including propping the slain child up in clothes. The real case remains unsolved to this day, although the town he was found near raised the money to give him a proper burial. edit »

10
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ferriswheel01
member since: Jan 15, 2008
Boy in the Box
The Bottom Line: "Well written"
the truth is out there ... spoilers ...Continue »
03/03/08 06:03am | report abuse
8.2
00
Milks23
member since: Jul 11, 2005
Boy in the Box
The Bottom Line: "Another great installment"
Another true story ...Continue »
01/27/06 02:27pm | report abuse
9.7
20
jeyon
member since: Jul 23, 2005
Boy in the Box
The Bottom Line: "Series classic"
Eerily memorable. ...Continue »
07/22/05 02:15pm | report abuse