HADDON TOWNSHIP, N.J., (CBS) — Authorities continue to
investigate the death of a three-year-old New Jersey boy who went missing and was
later found dead early Tuesday morning.
Friends,
family and neighbors
gathered
Tuesday night to remember
the
young boy.
“It’s disheartening. It’s really
sickening. I spent all day at work just thinking
about
this little one and couldn’t wait to come home and see her and I just really feel for the family and I
couldn’t imagine having to go
through anything like that,” said a resident.
A community is in pain as they mourn the death of
three-year-old Brendan Link Creato.
Many of the people
in
attendance held candles
and
tried to hold back tears as they sang and read different
poems and bible verses.
“But it’s fascinating that this entire town came
together, when people who don’t even know him went out looking for him. It’s an
amazing town,” said a resident.
As CBS 3’s David Spunt reports, neighbors woke up to
text messages from authorities asking for help to find the three-year-old. He went missing
from
his dad’s apartment early Tuesday morning around 6 a.m. An intense search continued, until 9 a.m.
when authorities
found the little
boy’s body near the woods not even half a mile from his dad’s home.
Eyewitness News has learned Brendan’s parents are
separated and he spent the night with his dad. Family friends tell
Eyewitness News both parents spent hours being questioned by police.
The crowd placed candles, stuffed animals, and a collage, in front the building where he spent the night.
Brendan’s grandfather David Creato told Eyewitness News: “I hope no
parent or grandparent has to go through this. Brendan was the sunshine of our
lives. He had a special character about him. We are devastated.”
Around 300 people showed up for the vigil to
remember the little boy. Many in the
crowd knew Brendan personally.
“He loved Pirates. He
loved cats and dogs and he was going to be the Hulk for Halloween. He had his
costume ready. He was a joy,” family
friend Donna Duca said.
Samantha Denoto, Brendan’s mother released this
statement to Eyewitness News:
“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.”
No one was charged with Brendan’s death as of Tuesday
evening. Detectives are looking for tips. If you have any information, call the
Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/10/13/vigil-boy-haddon-township/
