Questions surround death of 3-year-old Brendan Creato

HADDON TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- In Camden County investigators are using the process of elimination when it comes to the death of a 3-year-old boy.

It's been exactly three weeks since Brendan Creato was found dead, and yet all we know, so far, is what did not kill him.

Brendan Creato disappeared from his father's Haddon Township apartment. The autopsy was inconclusive and the toxicology tests have apparently come back negative.

A medical expert we talked with says that leaves just one very strong possibility.

Dr. Gregory McDonald of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine tells us, "If you find nothing, then you have to understand the possibility of hypothermia exists."

Dr. McDonald is chairman of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology at PCOM. He says it's quite possible that 3-year-old Brendan Creato died from exposure to the elements.

The boy could have wandered away from home in the pre-dawn hours of October 13th when the temperature was in the mid-50s. It wouldn't take long for the exposure to turn deadly for a small child.

"Generally I would say a few hours in that type of environment, within the 50s or so," Dr. McDonald said.

Unfortunately, it's very difficult to determine if someone died from hypothermia. Blood color sometimes turns bright cherry red and victims are often found unclothed, paradoxically undressing themselves, feeling like they've become overheated.

Investigators aren't saying if Brendan was found in his pajamas or not. But, even those two indicators may not be present, making a determination very difficult.

Dr. McDonald says, "Even the best trained of us, there are cases that we don't like to have because of the relative limitations and lack of finding that we have to work with."

The uncertainty has been unsettling for residents of the community. They want answers.

Brendan's father, DJ Creato was the last adult to see him alive. His lawyer says he's as much in the dark as anyone else, and there may never be a conclusive answer.

"When you think of just looking at the circumstances, the environment probably plays a pretty big role in the death of this child," Dr. McDonald said.

It may have been a tragic accident, but Dr. McDonald says there are two other possibilities that might not show up in an autopsy: heart failure or suffocation. He explains suffocation might not leave marks on a small child, unable to put up much of a fight.