The body of missing 5-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund was found near Woodstock, Illinois, about 9 miles southeast of his home in Crystal Lake. His parents have been arrested and charged with his murder.
Sources tell WGN the body was found in a rural area about 15 minutes from his home. The attorney for the boy’s mother, JoAnn Cunningham, was seen entering the police station at 6 a.m. Wednesday.
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At a news conference on Wednesday, the FBI announced they are charging AJ’s parents with his murder. Illinois does not have the death penalty. The maximum penalty for murder is life.
Early Wednesday, investigators were seen removing bags of evidence from the home on Dole Avenue. Officers were seen removing a soiled mattress, a shovel, and a large bin from the home. The family dog was also removed.
The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) removed AJ’s 3-year-old brother from the home after AJ was reported missing on Thursday.
DCFS has a long history with the family since 2013 when AJ was born with opioids in his system. The department made multiple trips to the house in response to calls from concerned neighbors.
The Crystal Lake Police Department also visited the house on numerous occasions. A police report stated the living conditions inside the home was “unacceptable.” The house was littered with dog feces and there was a strong odor of urine and feces in the children’s bedroom.
One officer responded to the home when a neighbor called to say the house was without power for weeks. The officer called a supervisor, then called DCFS, but was told a power outage was not sufficient reason to remove the children.
On Tuesday, police released a 911 call from Freund Sr. who claimed he last saw AJ on Wednesday at bedtime.
Freund reported his son missing on Thursday morning. In the 9:04 a.m. call, Freund spoke very calmly, saying he returned home from a doctor’s appointment around 8:15 a.m. and found his son missing.
