It was a pleasant autumn morning in Haddon Township, New Jersey, on 13 October, 2015. The homes along the tree-lined streets of Cooper Street and Virginia Avenue were all decorated in preparation of Halloween. That morning, however, residents awoke to police canvassing the streets and a helicopter hovering overhead. Unbeknownst to the locals, something terrible had transpired in their quiet community overnight, something that would strike fear into the heart of parents across the township.
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Audio Sources:
“David Creato – 911 Call for Missing Brendan Creato”
“David Creato Trial Prosecutor Opening Statements”
“David Creato Trial Defence Opening Statements”
“David Creato Trial Day 1 Part 2 (Victim’s Mother Samantha Denoto Testifies)”
“David Creato Trial Day 5 Part 1 Julie Stensky Voir Dire”
Sources:
Associated Press, 14 October, 2015 – “New Jersey Boy, 3, Reported Missing is Found Dead”
International Business Times, 14 October, 2015 – “Missing Boy, 3, Found Dead”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 14 October, 2015 – “An Ominous Call, Then Fears Come True”
The Daily Mirror, 15 October, 2015 – “Hear 911 Call”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 October, 2015 – “I Just Woke up and my 3-Year-Old’s Missing”
The Jersey Journal, 17 October, 2015 – “As Answers Are Sought in Death of N.J. Boy, A Craving For Healing”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 17 October, 2015 – “Few Clues in Death of Hadden Twp, Boy”
The Jersey Journal, 21 October, 2015 – “Dad of N.J Toddler Found Dead Isn’t a Suspect”
Philadelphia Daily News, 22 October, 2015 – “New Info in Death of SJ Boy”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 22 October, 2015 – “In Puzzling Case of Dead Tot, Sex Assault Ruled Out”
South Jersey Times, 23 October, 2015 – “Outside Experts Asked to Review Autopsy of Toddler”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 3 November, 2015 – “Toxicology Test Negative”
South Jersey Times, 4 November, 2015 – “Few Clues Surface in Toddler’s Death”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 5 December, 2015 – “Unknowns in Toddler’s Death Still Frustrate”
Associated Press, 11 January, 2016 – “Father Charged with Murder”
Associated Press State Wire, 12 January, 2016 – “Dad Killed Boy to Continue Relationship”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 13 January, 2016 – “Behind Haddon Township Tot’s Killing, a Tangled Tale”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 17 January, 2016 – “Suspect Named in Tot’s Death”
Associated Press State Wire, 1 April, 2016 – “Dismiss Murder Charge Against Dad in Son’s Death”
The Star-Ledger, 1 April, 2016 – “Dad Accused of Killing Toddler Wants Charges Tossed”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2 April, 2016 – “Creato Transcript Released”
The Star-Ledger, 7 April, 2016 – “5 New Details Revealed by Lawyer”
Philadelphia Daily News, 5 May, 2016 – “Court Filings Show Case Against Creato”
South Jersey Times, 20 May, 2016 – “Defense Questions Police Procedure”
South Jersey Times, 30 September, 2016 – “Haddon Township Murder Trial Start Date”
The Star Ledger, 3 October, 2016 – “Start Date Set for Dad’s Murder Trial”
Associated Press, 4 December, 2016 – “Bench, Trees Dedicated to 3-Year-Old”
South Jersey Times, 5 December, 2016 – “Haddon Township at Memorial”
Associated Press, 20 April, 2017 – “Man Accused in Son’s Death Spoke of a Spirit”
Philadelphia Daily News, 21 April, 2017 – “Creato Claims Spirit Drew Son to Woods”
South Jersey Times, 21 April, 2017 – “Trial Opens”
South Jersey Times, 21 April, 2017 – “They Found My Son in the Woods”
Associated Press, 25 April, 2017 – “Officer Who Found Boy’s Body Testifies at Dad’s Murder Trial”
The Star-Ledger, 25 April, 2017 – “I Saw a Small Child Lying in the Water”
Philadelphia Daily News, 28 April, 2017 – “Jurors Travel to Spot in Woods Where Brendan Creato Was Found”
The Star-Ledger, 27 April, 2017 – “Dad Accused of Murder Wasn’t a Suspect Until Week or 2 Later”
South Jersey Times, 28 April, 2017 – “Boy Placed in Creek”
Associated Press, 3 May, 2017 – “Can’t Determine Where or When Boy Died”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 3 May, 2017 – “Girlfriend Testifies”
South Jersey Times, 3 May, 2017 – “Let Mom Care for Boy”
The Star-Ledger, 3 May, 2017 – “Medical Examiner at Dad’s Murder Trial”
South Jersey Times, 5 May, 2017 – “DNA Testing Questioned”
Philadelphia Daily News, 10 May, 2017 – “Creato Texted Girlfriend”
Philadelphia Daily News, 18 May, 2017 – “Confident that Creato Will be Acquitted”
Associated Press, 23 May, 2017 – “Jury Deliberations Start”
Philadelphia Daily News, 24 May, 2017 – “Did Creato Kill His Son?”
Associated Press, 31 May, 2017 – “Mistrial in Case”
Philadelphia Daily News, 8 June, 2017 – “I Just Don’t Feel Justice Was Served”
Associated Press, 23 August, 2017 – “Dad Pleads Guilty”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 24 August, 2017 – “Surprise Plea of Guilty”
