What we know about N.J. toddler reported missing, later found dead

What happened to Brendan Creato? Two days after the 3-year-old was reported missing by his father, the cause of death remains unclear.

HADDON TWP. -- What happened to Brendan Creato? Two days after the 3-year-old was reported missing by his father, the circumstances surrounding the boy's death remain unclear.

On Wednesday, as investigators continued to comb the wooded area off South Park Drive where the boy's body was found, a community was left with many unanswered questions regarding the loss of such a young life.

- We know that Brendan's father, identified as DJ Creato during a 9-1-1 call made shortly after 6 a.m. on Tuesday, was at a township home with his son overnight Monday.

- We know that DJ Creato woke up to find his son missing and called 9-1-1.

 "I don't know if he wandered out or what happened. I don't know where he is. The door was locked. I guess he unlocked it and left," Creato said during his conversation with a dispatcher, adding that the boy was dressed in red pajamas.

- We know DJ Creato and the child's mother, identified as Samantha Denoto, lived in different homes, but shared custody of their son, according to family friends. Family friends said Tuesday that the father had declined to retain a lawyer because he played no role in his son's death.

"We thank the community, which searched this morning for Brendan and gathered tonight in his memory. We appreciate your efforts and kind words," a statement released by the Denoto family read. "We do not have any answers about what occurred."

- We know Brendan's body was found by police K-9s a little more than half-a-mile from the home where he was reported missing. The scene is heavily wooded and some neighbors on Tuesday expressed doubt that a toddler would enter the brush on their own.

- We don't know the cause or manner of death. An autopsy conducted Tuesday failed to find out what led to the toddler's death, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday. According to news reports, toxicology tests could take up to a month to be completed and no charges have been filed as of Thursday.

- We don't know whose female voice can be heard during the 9-1-1 call as DJ Creato searched the house for his son. The woman is heard calling Brendan's name twice. According to reports, the boy was dropped off at Creato's apartment at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday by his grandmother.

- We don't know how Brendan ended up in the woods. DJ Creato said during the 9-1-1 call that the doors were locked. Family friends on Tuesday reinforced their belief that "a stranger" was responsible for the death and Creato had nothing to do with it.

Readers with information about the incident are asked 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.

Mystery surrounds death of 3-year-old New Jersey boy http://t.co/q0VgxdGb53 pic.twitter.com/blCKMjEygT http://t.co/SKpzzQcIeZ #HuffPost

-- World News 24h (@WorldNews_24h) October 14, 2015