Here is the post about AJ being found

Cunningham pled guilty to the death of AJ in December 2019 and was sentenced on 17 July 2020. She is sentenced to 35 years, which she HAS to do the whole 35! She cannot get out early! She also will have to do 3 years supervised upon her release! She will be 72 years old when she’s released.

Here is a link to the video of the sentencing hearing: FOX23Chicago

The step-father goes on trial 30 July 2020.

Here is part of Cunningham’s statement: (she really is a sick person)

“I’ve had the privilege of having AJ as a son and when I had him those were the happiest days of my life. I loved him, I miss him and there’s nothing that I wouldn’t do to bring him back.”

“My children are the greatest gift God has ever given me. They are my whole world. The reason they are the reason I breathe. Anyone who truly knows me can say how much I love being a mother, more than anything in the world. Being a mother defines me.”

“My children gave me a singleness of purpose. A love and a joy that can never be replaced. My heart belongs entirely to them. All of my children are sacred and my most precious treasures. I miss all of them so much. Words cannot describe it.”

“AJ is remembered as brilliant, handsome, funny, loving, special, beautiful, courageous, driven, talented and absolutely loved. AJ carried a briefcase around every day because he was going to be a lawyer, he also wanted to be a garbage man gas station attendant doctor, and to work at the local doughnut shop. And he was convinced along with all of us that he could be anything that he wanted to be. I raised all my children to everything with love and joy. AJ’s favorite doughnut was chocolate sprinkles. His favorite color is green. His favorite food is all the food. He could never pick a favorite because he loved to eat everything. His favorite toys are Legos.”

Read the rest of her statement: NBC Chicago 5

Apparently there were numerous videos on the mother’s phone! The torture this boy received is said to be unbearable! One of the videos showed A.J. saying that he wanted “bad people” to hurt Cunningham.

AJ’s last words to his mother “So I don’t ever see you again.”

Rest easy AJ! Your murderer is now in jail for 35 years!

Cunningham’s plea of guilt document:

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If Freund is able to provide truthful – and perhaps incriminating – testimony in Cunningham’s case, his attorney is hopeful that he could be rewarded with a plea deal. No deals have been offered.

Freund reported AJ missing on 18 April 2019. Investigators found AJ buried in a shallow grave wrapped in plastic. Coroner announced AJ died of blunt trauma to his head and said AJ died 15 April 2019. Freund and Cunningham are both in jail on $5 million dollar bail.

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• AJ was born on 14 October 2013 and tested positive for having opiates and benzodiazepines in his system, and the hospital reported the abuse to DCFS. AJ was placed into the loving home of his cousin.

• Two years DCFS determined that AJ’s parents had stopped abusing drugs and could provide a suitable environment to raise a child, the juvenile court ordered AJ to be returned to his parents at their home

• DCFS conducted follow up visits with AJ’s parents until April of 2016 at which time DCFS closed its abuse and neglect case, restoring full custodial rights to AJ’s parents.

• In 2017, in order to prevent the intervention of relatives, AJ’s parents forbid AJ’s grandmother and AJ’s brother Austin [AJ’s brother who was removed from the home in October 2013] from having any further contact with AJ and Parker. AJ’s foster parent who raised AJ for the first eighteen months of his life, from having any further contact with AJ.

• In 2017, AJ’s parents reverted to their destructive drug-addicted lifestyle and DCFS began receiving Hotline Calls which reported that the children were neglected and subjected to deplorable living conditions at the Dole House.

• On 31 October 2017, a neighbor to the Dole House reported that AJ and his brother came to her house for trick-or-treating. When she answered the door, the neighbor assumed that AJ was dressed in a Mummy costume, however, AJ’s mother informed her that AJ had accidently spilled boiling water on his head and face. Unconvinced by this explanation, the neighbor reported this incident to DCFS via a Hotline Call. The neighbor also states that she subsequently made numerous other Hotline Calls concerning the deplorable conditions that she observed at the Dole House which were unfit for a child to live in.

• On 21 March 2018, AJ’s mother was found passed out in a car as a result of a drug overdose and was taken to the emergency room at Centegra Memorial Hospital. AJ’s father, accompanied by AJ and his younger brother Parker who were dressed in their clothes inside out, showed up at the hospital to retrieve the keys to the car that AJ’s mother had been found in.  A medical professional [mandatory reporting] at Centegra Hospital made a Hotline Call based upon her observation that AJ had odd bruising on his face and forehead and that both AJ and his brother Parker were dirty and appeared neglected.

• After numerous attempts to contact the Freund family, Kathleen Gold finally had contact on 25 April 2018.  Gold briefly met with AJ’s mother outside of the Dole House. Gold observed AJ and his brother playing outside in the driveway, but she did not conduct an interview outside of the presence of their mother with either of the boys. On 17 May 2018, Gold finally met with AJ, Parker and their parents inside the Dole House. In her report, Gold states that the “house appeared clean, neat and adequately furnished. The house appeared in good repair both inside and outside. All utilities were working. Home appeared to be hazard free.” Gold also conducted a private interview with AJ’s father who denied “any substance abuse treatment or DUIs and denied being arrested, police involvement or domestic violence.”  Gold never investigated the bruises reported on AJ’s face. On 18 May  2018, Gold after ignoring nearly all DCFS Investigative Directives and conducting what at best might be deemed a sham investigation into the March Hotline Call, concluded that the allegations of abuse were “Unfounded”.

• On 5 August 2018, AJ’s parents called the Crystal Lake police to the Dole House and reported that someone stole their opioid prescription drugs. The officers noted in their report that AJ’s parents appeared to be on narcotics and that false reporting of the loss of prescription drugs, as a ruse to obtain a replacement prescription, was a common ploy of drug abusers to get their opioid prescriptions refilled prematurely.

• On 20 September 2018, Crystal Lake Police Department received a report from a citizen who was concerned about the well-being of AJ and Parker due to the fact that the children were living in deplorable conditions and that the utilities to the Dole House had been shut off. Officer Dennis Meyer responded to the call. AJ’s mother answered the door but did not let Officer Meyer into the house. She admitted that the living conditions were poor and that the power had been off for a while but claimed that she was looking for a new place to live. AJ’s mother refused to allow Officer Meyer to enter and inspect the home. Immediately following his visit to the Dole House, Officer Meyer made a Hotline Call on 20 September 2018 and reported the allegations of environmental neglect set forth in the citizen’s complaint as supported by his own observations and noted that he was unable to view much of the interior of the home due to the refusal of AJ’s mother to allow him entry. Officer Meyer never heard back from anyone at DCFS. None of the documents produced by DCFS in response to the DCFS Discovery Citation makes any reference of an investigation into Officer Meyer’s September Hotline Call; in fact, the records produced by DCFS do not even reference that the September Hotline Call had ever been made.

• On 18 December 2018, the Crystal Lake Police Department received a call from AJ’s mother, which she made from a parking lot at the Taco Bell who claimed that her live-in lover Daniel Nowicki had stolen her opioid medications. Officer Kimberly Shipbaugh met with AJ’s mother at the Taco Bell parking lot and noticed two young children in the backseat of her car, one of whom was visibly upset. Officer Shipbaugh directed AJ’s mother to drive the children back to their home and that she would follow them in her squad car. Officer Nickolaus Trimpe located Nowicki walking in a commercial area of Crystal Lake. Nowicki denied stealing AJ’s mother’s opioids but claimed that they had gotten into an argument that morning because AJ’s mother had stolen his opioid medications and that he left the house because she had gotten belligerent and started shouting at him in front of the children.

Officers Shipbaugh and Trimpe were appalled that the children were living in deplorable conditions, specifically detailing in their report the following observations: (1) dog feces and urine were scattered about the residence; (2) several windows of the residence, including AJ’s bedroom, were broken which allowed cold outside air to enter the residence; (3) that despite the broken windows and freezing conditions, AJ was dressed in only a diaper; (4) a fireplace that appeared to be the main heat source was broken; (5) filth, clutter, dirt, and disrepair was evident throughout the home; (6) there was jagged and broken flooring in the kitchen; (7) there was water damage to the kitchen ceiling, causing it to partially collapse; (8) the furniture was covered in piles of dirty clothing; (9) the door to the kitchen was covered by unknown brown substances; and, (10) although AJ’s bedroom window was open, an overwhelming smell of feces permeated the room.

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AJ was only wearing a pull-up diaper, the officers noticed a large bruise that extended from AJ’s right hip onto his thigh. When questioned about the bruising, AJ’s mother’s first response was that “she had not noticed it before”. After looking at the bruise as if for the first time, AJ’s mother stated, “that it must have been from the dog.” Both boys, AJ and Parker were taken into protective custody by Officer Shipbaugh.

Dr Channon, an emergency room physician, examined AJ at 2:40PM. In her notes, she indicated that AJ had suffered abrasions to his upper lip and right hip. When questioned in the presence of his mother, AJ told Dr. Channon that his dog caused the injuries when they were playing; however, when Dr. Channon met with AJ privately, Dr. Channon documented that AJ reluctantly revealed that his injury occurred because his mother had hit him with a belt, but that she didn’t mean to hurt him. As the doctor pressed for more information, AJ returned to his story that the bruise was caused by the dog, but then offered a new explanation that he had fallen while getting a juice box.

Dr. Channon references that she spoke with Defendant Acosta by phone at 4:30PM and relayed to him that AJ had told her that his mother had hit him with a belt and that AJ changed his story multiple times. Dr. Channon expressed concern to Acosta that AJ was the victim of abuse from his mother or another family member, but that she was not qualified to opine on the cause of AJ’s injury and that Acosta should arrange for AJ to meet with a professional trained to evaluate child abuse. 113. In his report, Acosta admits that Dr. Channon told him that she had no idea of what caused AJ’s injuries because she was neither a forensic specialist nor a child abuse specialist.

Despite Dr. Channon’s inability to offer an opinion on the cause of AJ’s injuries, Acosta ignored DCFS’ mandate that AJ be examined by a physician qualified to provide an opinion on whether AJ’s contusions were evidence of child abuse.

Shortly after Acosta began his investigation, he released AJ and Parker from DCFS’ protective custody and allowed their patently drug-addicted parents to take the children back to their deplorable home environment—filled with feces, collapsed ceilings, missing flooring, all of which the Crystal Lake Police had documented with photographs earlier that day.

• On 19 December 2018, Acosta went to Dole House and concluded it was a suitable environment for AJ and his brother. However, Acosta’s Report fails to reference let alone reconcile his alleged observations with the deplorable conditions photographed by the Crystal Lake Police the day before which depicted living conditions unfit for a dog.

• On 20nDecember 2018, Defendant Acosta falsely certified the CERAP by finding that AJ faced no safety threats if he was returned to the Dole House, summarizing his “Safety Decision” as follows:

The child or children are currently safe. Andrew was found to have a large bruise on his right trunk, which he states as caused by his dog (a large boxer breed). Medical exam was inconclusive. RE Dr. stated it “could have been a dog or a belt or a football.” Home was found by CLPD to be cluttered and have animal urine present. Worker visited the home the next day and found the sleeping areas appropriate. Dining and living rooms were cluttered with clothes and toys, but no clear safety concerns or hazards observed.

• On 4 January 2019, Polovin a DCFS Public Service Administrator who at all relevant times acted as Acosta’s supervisor, in reckless disregard of his duties to ensure that DCFS’ investigative child protection protocols are followed, blessed Defendant Acosta’s sham investigation and concurred in his finding that the December Hotline Call of abuse to be “Unfounded”.

• On 18 April 2019, the Crystal Lake Police Department responded to a missing person’s report filed by AJ’s parents. Upon their arrival at the Dole House, the police reported observing the same deplorable living conditions that they relayed to DCFS in their previous reports.  DCFS  removed AJ’s 4 year old brother Parker while the agency investigates abuse and neglect allegations.

• 24 April 2019, AJ was found in a shallow grave wrapped in plastic just 7.5 miles from his home.

Joann Cunningham was charged with five counts of first-degree murder, four counts of aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated domestic battery, and one count of failure to report a missing or child death.

Andrew Freund Sr. was charged with five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery, one count of aggravated domestic battery, two counts of concealment of a homicidal death, and one count of failure to report a missing or child death.

• AJ’s father admitted that he and AJ’s mother would frequently, as “forms of discipline”: 1.  inflict severe beatings upon AJ; 2. imprison AJ in his bedroom at night or during the day for hours at a time; and, 3. force AJ to take 20-minute freezing cold showers.

AJ’s father told investigators that AJ died as a result of a cold shower punishment. McHenry County Coroner autopsy report stated AJ’s body revealed that he most likely died on 15 April 2019 due to multiple blunt force injuries to the head.

The house after AJ was found dead!

The house after!

• On 31 May 2019 Cunningham gave birth to a baby girl.  A sister AJ will never meet, get to okay with, or just protect her.  Cunningham named her Gracie Faith! Daniel Nowicki Jr is the girls father.

• Daniel Nowicki Jr., 36,  died of an overdose in Indian on 29 September 2019. Nowicki had a court-appointed attorney working so he could have a role in his daughter life!

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The warning signs included:
→ multiple police contacts
→misdemeanor arrests of his parents
→squalid living conditions
→substance abuse
→domestic violence
→the mother’s long history of prior hotline calls

In 2017 and 2018, police officers, medical personnel and AJ’s neighbors made numerous calls to DCFS’ Child Abuse Hotline detailing not only AJ’s observable physical injuries, but also the appalling condition of his home at 94 Dole Avenue, Crystal Lake, Illinois which he shared with his younger brother Parker. Inexplicably and contrary to DCFS Procedures, only two of the numerous 2017/2018 Hotline Calls were documented and investigated by DCFS, namely a Hotline Call made on 18 March 2018 and a Hotline Call made on 18 December 2018.

The December Hotline Call was initiated by a Crystal Lake police officer who found AJ and his younger brother Parker living in squalid conditions and, after observing a large bruise on AJ’s hip that extended down his thigh, exercised the power granted police officers under ANCRA and placed AJ and his younger brother Parker under protective custody.  While AJ was alone with the emergency room doctor, admitted that the bruise was caused by his mother striking him with a belt.   Acosta falsified the CERAP [Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol] and indicated that AJ’s bruise was caused by a dog and that no safety threats endangered AJ which would warrant taking AJ into protective custody or even warrant the establishment of a family safety plan which would allow DCFS to monitor the situation.

In response to the two Hotline Calls that DCFS deigned to document, the assigned DCFS Child Protection Specialists conducted sham investigations and filed reports which included falsified findings intended to justify their determinations that the allegations of abuse were “Unfounded”.

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A grand jury indicted them yesterday on 20 charges each, including three counts of murder and one count of concealing a death for the 15 April murder of AJ. They were also indicted with additional counts of battery stemming from the 4 March beating they videotaped, as well as several counts of reckless conduct, unlawful restraint and child endangerment stemming from a September 2018 incident.  20 September 2018 incident

Their next court appearance is 18 June.

Here are their new records. As you can see from previous ones, many charges were added. You can see the previous files Here

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-the child ate 4 out of 7 days
-Andrew would put on his army uniform and walk around the house with a gun. [it was said by Cunningham’s ex-husband, Andrew was never in the military]
-plenty of arguments
-house was filthy
-sent to school without food or lunch money

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We, the family that lovingly cared for Andrew (AJ) during the first 18 months of his life and were then allowed to be in his life for another 26 months until the parents abruptly prevented us from having any further contact with him, want everyone to know that AJ was loved by us with all our hearts.

While we had him in our lives, he had a happy, fun-loving life. This smart little boy loved having books read to him, doing puzzles, his Thomas the Train, playing with his fire trucks, bulldozers, cement mixer and Ninja Turtles. He was very curious and always wanted to learn about everything.

He was, and will always be, our loving and caring little boy. With his brave short life, AJ made the ultimate sacrifice to save his younger brother and unborn sibling. His life shall not be in vain. AJ will always be our little superhero.

We want to thank the Crystal Lake Police and surrounding Police Departments, the FBI, all other first responders, and our community at large. We appreciate all of the kindness, prayers, love, and compassion shown by all.

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Joann Cunningham and Andrew Freund have given up custody of Aj’s younger brother Parker!

Prosecutors filed a petition seeking permanent measures to terminate Cunninghams and Freund’s parental rights.

DCFS Jassen Strokosch stated:  “If the parents are found unfit, their child could be moved to another home longterm or placed for adoption. This process could take several months.”  If you remember in the murderers first court appearance, the judge stated that these 2 are to have NO contact with anyone under the age of 17.

Parker was taken from their care the day AJ was reported missing and is in the care of Illinois department of children  and family services!  Illinois DCFS is under scrutiny for over looking the doctors report about AJ being hit with a belt by his mother.

Cunningham is also pregnant with another child and due in about 2 months.  I’m assuming that child will go immediately into DCSF’s care.

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AJ’s murderers showed up in court today! Also there also were 12 people from the community to show support for AJ!

The mother is charged with five counts of murder, four counts of aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated domestic battery, and one count of failure to report a missing child or child death. The judge appointed her a public defender because she has not worked for the past 2 years.

The father who is charged with five counts of murder, two counts of aggravated battery, one count of aggravated domestic battery, two counts of concealing a homicide, and one count of failure to report a missing child or child death. He said he wanted more time to decide on getting his own attorney, or being assigned a public defender. The judge gave him until May 3 to make his decision.

The next preliminary hearing will be 10 May for these so called ‘parents’. More than likely to enter their plea in court. You can bet they will plea not guilty of murdering AJ, and waste the state’s money on a trial!

The mother is 7 months pregnant! I assume that child will go to another family member.

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“AJ” Freund reported being hit with a belt, the officials told a legislative panel.

A caseworker last visited freund’s in December, but blamed bruising on AJ to the dog. The case was closed in January despite a note in his file that indicated a “doctor was concerned because Andrew said, ‘Maybe someone hit me with a belt. Maybe Mommy didn’t mean to hurt me.'”

Of course DCFS claims that piece of this case was missing!  The agents who worked on this case are on administrative duty and not working on family cases.

Rep. Sara Feigenholtz said the state of Illinois is doing a “lousy job” at recruiting foster parents to care for abused children removed from their biological homes. She blamed it in part on too great a focus on what otherwise is a laudable goal of reuniting biological families when possible. But social services for troubled families are lacking, she said.

Here is a link to the DCFS report released DCFS report

AJ is the 3rd child to die under the agency’s watch since February.

The parents are due in court today!

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please visit the Funeral home page

Born October 14, 2013, Andrew “AJ” Freund had a smile that could light up a room—and a personality to match. He was a loving, affectionate and outgoing little boy, a virtual ray of sunshine to all who knew him, with a giggle and laugh that was uniquely his. AJ, now an angel to all of us, will be forever remembered in the hearts of everyone he touched—friends, family and people near and far throughout our community.

AJ took very seriously his role as a brother to both of his siblings. You could often find him hugging and wrestling with his younger brother, watching over him always. Like many boys their age, the pair loved to play outside and indoors, you would find him drawing, reading books or putting puzzles together. Of course, a photo always had to be taken to document his latest puzzle achievement! AJ would sit and play Legos for hours and was an extremely smart and friendly boy who could not wait to start kindergarten in the fall and make new friends.

To honor AJ, a public visitation will be Friday, May 3, from 1p.m. until 8 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave. (Rte. 176), Crystal Lake.

To give a memorial in AJ’s name see the link below. If you have further questions, you are welcome to call the funeral home at 815-459-3411.

AJ’s family and friends would like to the thank the people of Crystal Lake and surrounding communities for their overwhelming generosity, prayers and outpouring of love and support. As untimely and tragic as his young death is, may AJ’s passing bring more awareness to all of us, and hope to and for children everywhere.

VISITATION
Friday
May 3, 2019
1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory
419 E. Terra Cotta Ave.
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Donations may be made to:
AJ Freund
Crystal Lake IL 60014
Web: AJ official Go-Fund-Me

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Report 2 of 2

On 18 December 2018 two officers responded to 94 Dole Ave., Crystal Lake Illinois reference a burglary. Upon arrival the officers observed the living conditions of the residence to not be up to acceptable standard of living with two young children living in the residence. The officers observed redacted and redacted in the residence where dog feces and urine were scattered about the residence. The officers observed several windows of the residence to be open or broken with outside air entering the residence. The officers observed the fireplace that is usually utilized for heating the residence to be in this disrepair.
The officers contacted Seacomm at 0847 hours and requested that Crystal Lake building and zoning to inspect the residence. Upon arrival they were denied entry into the residence. The officers proceeded to photograph the interior of the resident and email the photos to another officer to submit into evidence.

At zero 920 Joanne Cunningham of 94 Dole Ave., Crystal Lake Illinois was placed under arrest by the officers for driving while license suspended. The officers transported Joanne to Crystal Lake PD to be processed. The squad car was checked prior to and after transporting nothing was located.

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Report 1 of 2!

On 18 December 2018 at approximately 0 830 and I have a surprise for typically identified subject redacted who was the suspect for a theft that transpired at redacted in Crystal Lake.

While patrolling eastbound on US Route 14 at the intersection of Keith Avenue, the officer witnessed a male wearing black pants and a black hooded sweatshirt crossing over and walking through the parking lot of Associated Bank. The officer proceeded to pull up and make contact with the male, who identified himself as redacted. Redacted stated that he had an argument with redacted earlier that morning and subsequently left the premises. Redacted then stated the argument was over redacted attempting to steal his medications.

Redacted further stated that redacted started shouting at him calling him a “piece of sh!t” at the time. Redacted advised he left the residence and was heading towards the grocery store to cash in some winning scratch off lottery tickets.

The officer requested permission to pat him down due to allegations of stealing her cell phone and medications. Redacted voluntarily empty his pockets and consented to a pat down. Redacted then proceeded to show the officer some of his medications all of which were prescribed to him and explicitly denied he stole any of redacted possessions. The pat down of redacted confirm he was not in possession of redacted cell phone.

Enclosing redacted advised he was intent on staying out of trouble and heading to redacted.

On 19 December and Illinois pedestrian stop data sheet and stop receipt was mailed to redacted the address on his drivers license.

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