Joseph Rodriguez

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Joseph Rodriguez (1932 – missing from September 6, 1936) was a four year old resident of East Harlem (also known as Spanish Harlem or El Barrio), New York, whose disappearance in 1936 remains one of the oldest known unsolved missing persons cases in New York City history.

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[edit] The disappearance

[edit] Playing with other children

Joseph, or Joe as he was known, disappeared on September 6, 1936. Joe was being raised by his aunt, Pauline Rodriguez, and was last seen nearby her residence on Park Avenue. Reportedly, he was playing with other children at the time of his abduction.

[edit] An anonymous telegram

Within a few days of the abduction, Pauline received an anonymous telegram which insinuated that Joseph had been injured and possibly hit by a car. The telegram read:

Pauline, Joseph will be back on Wednesday. Doctor will not let me move him.

[edit] A "cold case"

Whether or not the details were based in truth or were intended to be a red herring to throw off the investigation is unknown. This is the only known correspondence from the (presumed) kidnapper to Joseph's family, and Joseph's body was never returned. His whereabouts continue to remain a mystery, as does the identity of the kidnapper, making this incident a cold case. If Joseph were still alive he would be 76 years old as of 2008.

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