Several of the potential jurors shook their heads when the judge announced the charges.
CAMDEN -- Several of the 120 potential jurors in a Camden County Superior Courtroom Tuesday shook their heads when Judge John T. Kelley announced the charges brought against David "D.J." Creato Jr.: murder and endangering the welfare of a child.
Creato, 23, of Haddon Township, is accused of killing his son, Brendan Creato, 3, and leaving his body in a park near his home in 2015. Prosecutors believe he did it to appease his on-again-off-again girlfriend who did not like children, but he has denied the charges and rejected a 35-year plea deal.
In court Tuesday, Creato briefly faced the potential jurors when the judge asked his attorney, Richard Fuschino Jr., to introduce himself and his client to the jury pool. He wore a suit and his hair in a ponytail and remained expressionless throughout the morning.
Kelley said Tuesday that he expects the trial to take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the end of May.
Creato's ex-girlfriend, Julia "Julie" Stensky, who was a student at Pace University in New York, is on the list of possible witnesses, along with two others from Pace University. Also on the witness list are Brendan Creato's mother, Samantha Denoto, numerous members of Creato's family, Camden County Medical Examiner Gerald Feigin, and law enforcement officials from local police detectives to the FBI.
Family recalls Brendan as smiling boy
On Tuesday morning, after potential jurors approached the judge to discuss possible hardships that would make it difficult for them to attend the entire trial, only 35 people were asked to remain.
Around noon, Kelley began asking the potential jurors questions to determine if they could be impartial if seated on the jury. They included whether they had been or knew anyone who had been a victim of a violent crime, whether they had connections to anyone in law enforcement, and whether they knew any of the witnesses.
Opening statements will begin once a jury is selected, but there's no sign of when that will be.
Brendan Creato was found lifeless in a stream in Cooper River Park Oct. 13, 2015 about a half mile from him home on Cooper Street and several hours after his father called 911 saying he woke up to find his son missing.
David Creato Jr. was indicted three months later. He told authorities that his son must have unlocked the door and walked to the stream himself, according to statements made in court.
Assistant Prosecutor Christine Shah has said there's no way the boy walked there himself because it is not a short walk and the boy's only footwear, socks, were clean.
Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.