Mourners gather outside the home of 5-year-old Andrew "AJ" Freund for a vigil Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Crystal Lake, Ill. Andrew's body was found in a wooded area in Woodstock Wednesday, and the boy's parents have been charged with his murder. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)
CHICAGO (AP) — Police believe an Illinois couple who reported their 5-year-old son missing last week killed him days earlier by beating him and forcing him to stand in a cold shower for an extended period of time, according to court documents released Thursday.
The allegations are included in a criminal complaint that outlines first-degree murder, aggravated battery and several other charges against Joann Cunningham, 36, and Andrew Freund Sr., 60, in the death of Andrew "AJ" Freund. A judge on Thursday set bail at $5 million, meaning each parent would have to post 10%, or $500,000, to be released from jail.
An autopsy determined that the boy whose body was found in a shallow grave in northern Illinois died of blunt force trauma to his head and that he'd been struck multiple times. In a news release, the McHenry County Coroner confirmed that the body that was found wrapped in plastic in a wooded area a few miles from the family's Crystal Lake home was that of Andrew "AJ" Freund.
Investigators say they found the body a few miles from the family's Crystal Lake home based on information provided by Freund. Crystal Lake is about 50 miles northwest of Chicago. The couple's brief court appearance Thursday came exactly a week after Freund triggered a massive search on April 18 when he called 911 to report that the couple hadn't seen their son since bedtime the night before. Police believe the boy was killed April 15, according to the criminal complaint.
This combination of undated photos provided by the McHenry County Sheriff's Department in Woodstock, Ill., on Thursday, April 25, 2019 shows JoAnn Cunningham, left, and Andrew Freund Sr. (McHenry County Sheriff's Department via AP)
Authorities say the boy had lived in deplorable conditions.
"It is my hope that you may have some solace in knowing that AJ is no longer suffering and his killers have been brought to justice," Crystal Lake Police Chief James Black told reporters Wednesday, in a statement directed at the child's relatives.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Service had a long history with the family — including an investigation that was launched shortly after AJ was born when tests revealed there were opiates in his body that prompted the agency to place the boy in foster care for nearly two years.
Crystal Lake police also have repeatedly been called to the family's house. Officers in police reports described finding filthy living conditions, broken windows, evidence of drug use and the overpowering smell of dog feces.
This undated photo provided by the Crystal Lake, Illinois Police Department shows Andrew “AJ” Freund. (Crystal Lake Police Department via AP)
After AJ's parents reported him missing, authorities immediately placed his younger brother in the custody of state welfare workers.
Lawyers from the McHenry County public defender's office represented the parents during Thursday's hearing, and it was unclear whether they had hired private attorneys. Judge Mark Gerhardt ordered the couple return to court for a preliminary hearing on Monday.
Related stories:
Missing Crystal Lake Boy's Buried Body Found, Parents Charged
Mother of Missing Crystal Lake 5-Year-Old Not Talking to Police
Trial Date Set for Man in Missing Timmothy Pitzen Hoax
More Charges for Man Accused of Claiming to be Missing Timmothy Pitzen
Man Accused of Claiming to Be Timmothy Pitzen to Remain Jailed
