Police Identify Haddon Township 3-Year-Old Who Was Found Dead Tuesday Morning

A 3-year-old who went missing from a Haddon Township home overnight and was found dead in a wooded area near the Cooper River has been identified.

Brendan Link Creato, 3, of Haddon Township, was reported missing from his residence on the 100 block of Cooper Street by a family member at approximately 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Haddon Township Police Chief Mark Cavallo said Tuesday afternoon.

A K-9 unit from the Delaware River Port Authority Police Department tracked the child to a wooded area off South Park Drive in Haddon Township, where he was found deceased shortly before 9 a.m.

An autopsy was to be conducted later Tuesday to determine the manner and cause of his death.

The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office is conducting the investigation, which spokesperson Andy McNeil called “very active and ongoing.” No arrests have been made at this time.

A resident told 6 ABC, the parents aren’t married, but only live a few blocks from each other. The boy spent Monday with his grandparents before he was dropped off at his father’s house in Haddon Township around 9:30 p.m. That was the last time he was seen.

The road from the boy’s home to the park runs through a suburban neighborhood with bigger lots and larger homes.

The park itself is full of dangers, including stairs leading to a small concrete landing that drops off into the water of a branch of the Cooper River.

On Tuesday night, a family friend defended Creato’s father, David “DJ” Creato, who is being questioned by police, according to the Courier Post. She said during a vigil in Brendan’s memory that DJ Creato was not being allowed to return to his parents’ house, but that she didn’t believe he was behind his son’s death.

David Creato Sr. said his grandson’s death “made no sense.”

Brendan’s mother, Samantha Denoto, released a statement on Tuesday night saying they were heartbroken and had no answers, according to 6 ABC.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful boy Brendan Creato. Along with the Creato family, who also lost a son and grandson, we are grieving and tremendously saddened,” the statement read, in part.

They also said they would make no more statements, and they would not be speaking to the media.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Michael Rhoads at 856-225-8561 or Haddon Township Police Detective Don Quinn at 856-833-6208.

Tips may also be emailed to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.