Jim Hoffmann

Jim Hoffmann was born and raised in Glendale Heights, IL, but now lives in Southern California. A graduate of Eastern Illinois University (BA History and German with a teaching credential) and Northern Illinois University (MS Education), he has taught social studies for over 35 years. One night in February of 1996, Hoffmann decided he wanted to be a writer and, as they say, “The rest is history.” He has written works on various topics and genres ranging from cryptids Bigfoot and Dogman, the Boy in the Box, Redbone, and New Age Spiritualism - to Children’s Books, Rock History, and Political and Social Satire.

INTERVIEWS...

Creepy Culture (Episode #30) - Jim Hoffmann Shares His Ghostly & Cryptic Encounters (3/23/2026)

Brent Holland Show: "True Crime: The Boy in the Box Identified" (2/12/2025)

Brent Holland Show: "Ode To Legendary JFK Researcher David Lifton / 'Best Evidence' & 'Final Charade'" (11/2/2024)

Dogman Encounters Radio: Episode 367 (7/23/2021)

The Deep Dark Truth - Truthseekers LLC Podcast: "True Crime | The Boy in the Box" (5/18/2021)

Murder Most Foul Podcast - James Sulanowski: "The Boy in the Box" (10/19/2020)

NBC News with Mitch Blacher: "New Theory in Decades-Old 'Boy in the Box' Cold Case" (3/3/2016)

WORKS FEATURED IN...

"The Girl in the Cellar - The Boy in the Box," Eileen Law Stewart, Self Published, 2023.

Wikipedia: "Murder of Joseph Augustus Zarelli" (2017)

Buzzfeed Unsolved: "The Mysterious Death of the Boy in the Box" (8/4/2017)

"You Think I'm Dead: Based on the True Story of the Boy in the Box (Detective Vic Gonnella)," Lou Romano, Vecchia Publishing, 2015.

VV Press Article: "Local Teacher Pens Tale of Pearl Harbor Survivor" (12/7/2010)