The Boston Globe reports there were several people in the house at the time but no one saw the kids climb into the trunk.
The Norfolk District Attorney told CBS Boston the chest was in a bedroom and close to a TV set.
Several reports indicate the chest was made by Lane Furniture and was among a group of over 12 million that were subject to a recall in 1996 after six children were killed in similar fashion.
Lane's website still offers replacement locks for the recalled products.