David "D.J." Creato is set to appear in court in Camden on Tuesday afternoon. Watch video
HADDON TWP. -- Following his arrest Monday, the father of 3-year-old Brendan Creato will appear in court in Camden on Tuesday afternoon.
David "D.J." Creato, Jr., 22, was indicted by a Camden County grand jury on charges of first-degree murder and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child stemming from his son's mysterious October 2015 death.
The Camden County Prosecutor's Office, which announced the charges and arrest, has declined to offer any additional comment as to not jeopardize the case. It's still unclear how Brendan, whose body was found nearly a half-mile from his father's apartment, died. An initial autopsy did not determine the cause or manner of death.
Creato is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Camden County Hall of Justice. Bail will be set at that time.
"This is a travesty that not only has he lost his son, but now he's being accused," Philadelphia-based attorney Richard J. Fuschino, who is representing Creato, told philly.com.
Fuschino, who previously told NJ Advance Media that his client was not a suspect in the investigation and already gave authorities a lengthy interview, did not return a request for comment.
It's been nearly three months since Creato called 9-1-1 on the morning of Oct. 13, 2015 to report his son went missing in the early dawn hours. The boy's body was found nearly three hours later in Cooper River Park.
William Brennan, a lawyer retained by D.J. Creato's parents and sister -- who testified before the grand jury -- told philly.com, "I know they love and support their son ... I'm sure they will continue to love and support their son."
Brennan did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
The family of Samantha Denoto, the toddler's mother who has never spoken publicly regarding the death, told NJ Advance Media via email Monday that this is a "very difficult time" for the family and that they would make no further statements.
The Haddon Township community reacted with shock and dismay Monday evening after news broke that Creato had been arrested. Declining to be interviewed, some went back to the memorial erected for Brendan and laid fresh flowers.
"I cannot believe that a man could go and do something like that to his own boy," a man who identified himself as a father said late Monday. "At that age or any age."
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.