Crime & Safety
LISTEN: 911 Call Reveals Details Of Dead 3-Year-Old's Disappearance
"I just woke up and my 3-year-old's missing," the boy's father says in what appears to sound as a calm, almost casual voice.
“I just woke up and my 3-year-old’s missing.”
Those were the calm, almost casual words from the father of a 3-year-old New Jersey boy who was discovered dead hours later on Tuesday.
Asked again about the Brendan Link Creato’s whereabouts, the father, David “DJ” Creato, says: “Hold on . . . is he in there? ... No, yeah, he’s missing.”
Find out what's happening in Haddonfield-Haddon Townshipfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The audio recording of the call (see/hear below) was obtained by The Inquirer Wednesday and offered potentially important details from the case.
Creato was reported missing around 6 a.m. Tuesday morning. About three hours later, police K-9 units tracked his body to a wooded area off South Park Drive in Haddon Township, where he was found deceased.
Find out what's happening in Haddonfield-Haddon Townshipfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The boy was staying with Creato Monday night. He was last seen around 9:30 p.m. when his grandmother dropped him off at Creato’s house on the 100 block of Cooper Street, according to published reports. David Creato and Samantha Denoto are not married, but both live in Haddon Township.
Police questioned the boy’s father on Tuesday.
Here is the call:
No charges have been filed yet, and no arrests were made.
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.
Samantha Denoto, the mother of Brendan, released the following statement late Tuesday night, 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.
“We thank the community, which searched this morning for Brendan and gathered tonight in his memory. We appreciate your efforts and kind words.
“We do not have any answers about what occurred.
“We do not intend to make any further statements. We do not plan to speak to the media. We request that we be provided with privacy during this very difficult time.”
Tips may also be emailed to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.
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