The aunt of a 3-year-old New Jersey boy who was found dead in the woods near the Cooper River last month was subpoenaed by a grand jury to testify in the investigation, a source tells NBC10 in Philadelphia.
Sarah Jessica Creato, 20, appeared before the grand jury Monday, the source told NBC10’s Cydney Long.
Sarah Jessica Creato’s nephew, Brendan Creato, was found dead the morning of Oct. 13 near the bank of the Cooper River in Haddon Township about a half-mile from his father, DJ Creato’s home.
The body was discovered about three hours after DJ Creato called 911 to report his son was missing.
Richard Fuschino Jr, DJ Creato’s lawyer, told NBC10 earlier this month that toxicology tests on Brendan Creato’s body came back negative. Officials also said there was no indication the boy was sexually assaulted and no indication of forced entry at DJ Creato’s home. They continue to investigate the cause of death.
Wednesday night, Philadelphia defense attorney Bill Brennan confirmed with NBC10 he is representing Brendan’s aunt and DJ’s sister Sarah Jessica Creato along with her parents. Brennan neither confirmed nor denied that his client was subpoenaed by a grand jury.
“Grand jury proceedings are secret and it’s my practice if there was a grand jury investigation not to comment,” he said.
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Brennan also spoke on a video Sara Jessica Creato created a year ago for a college assignment which featured Brendan playing the role of a child who vanished and was later found dead.
“It’s certainly an uncanny coincidence,” Brennan said. “It’s a red herring. I would just encourage people not to focus too much on it. It’s a waste of time.”
Brennan also told NBC10 no inferences should be made about family members who hired defense attorneys.
No arrests have been made in connection to the boy’s death.
