In Haddon Township, a new crop of blue bows in memory of Brendan Creato

Tied to lampposts and trees, blue bows are again appearing outside homes in Haddon Township. They honor Brendan Creato, the 3-year-old who was found dead in October 2015, a shock compounded for townspeople when the boy's father was charged with his murder.

A judge on Wednesday declared a mistrial in the case against David "D.J." Creato Jr. after jurors could not agree on whether he killed Brendan.

The bows, which were originally popular after the tot was found dead in the woods near Creato's apartment, have reemerged after Wednesday's ruling and upon his fifth birthday, which would have been Thursday.

Haddonfield Floral Co., at 25 Kings Highway E., is the maker of the bows, and shop owner D.W. Janszky said sales had been quiet until Wednesday, when there was a significant uptick. The shop originally began producing the bows in 2015 as a way to support the Creato family, Janszky said, adding that he hopes the bows can help the community stay positive.

"It's our very sincere privilege to be involved in any way whatsoever, if there's any healing that can possibly take place," he said. "Whatever we can do, we're available to do it."

Janszky said the shop doesn't yet have exact figures on the sales that have been made this week, but said the shop sold hundreds of the bows in 2015. A portion of the proceeds will go to Brendan's mother, Samantha Denoto, as they did before, Janszky added. Efforts to reach Denoto were unsuccessful.

On Thursday, one bow was tied to a tree in the woods near where Brendan's body was found. A second was attached to a cross someone placed beside the tree. Birthday balloons, of different colors, were tied to a bench across from the tree.

Peter Singer, 61, said he tied the bow on the tree and his wife had tied the balloons to the bench in an effort to "bring whoever did this to justice."

"And mainly it's for [Brendan's] memory," said Singer, an accountant who lives on Cooper Street in Haddon Township.

Brendan's body was found slumped over a rock and partially submerged in a creek in the woods, about three-quarters of a mile from Creato's apartment. Singer previously created a memorial for Brendan in that area, but it was removed when jurors visited the woods during the trial.

Deanna Paul, 45, also a Haddon Township resident, said she ordered a bow this week. Paul said she doesn't know Brendan's family, but added that she and others want the family "to know we are with them with thoughts and prayers."

"Driving through town, when I see a blue bow, it reminds me that this little boy needs justice, he's not forgotten, and that the family can see they have support, and that we will never forget this tragedy," she said. "It shook Haddon Township to the core."