CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Authorities believe 5-year-old AJ Freund died three days before he was reported missing, according to court documents. His parents, Joann Cunningham, 36, and Andrew Freund Sr., 60, are charged with his murder and accused of forcing their son, Andrew “AJ” Freund, to stay in a cold shower for an extended period of time and beat him, which lead to the young boy’s death. Interim Coroner David Devane released a preliminary cause of death for AJ Freund as multiple blunt force trauma injuries to the head, ABC 7 Chicago is reporting.
Both Cunningham and Freund appeared in bond court Thursday morning where their bail was set at $5 million.
Cunningham and Freund’s son, Andrew, died on April 15 – three days before Andrew Freund St. made a 911 call to police to report his son was missing.
Both parents are charged with five counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and failure to report a missing child or death in connection with the April 15 death of AJ Freund. They also face an additional three counts of aggravated battery in connection with a March 5 report of AJ being hit, which caused bodily harm.
Court Records Show History Of Neglect, Drugs For Freund’s Parents
Andrew Freund Sr. faces an additional charge of concealment of homicidal death. Authorities say he buried his son’s body, wrapped in plastic, in a shallow grave, according to the criminal complaint.
Cunningham and Freund made a brief court appearance at the McHenry County Jail Thursday. Both have been assigned public defenders.
Cunningham shook her head and held back tears during her hearing and Freund held onto the podium or kept his hands clasped behind or in front of him during the hearing, according to the Chicago Tribune. Freund showed no emotion.
Later in the morning, Andrew Freund appeared for a court hearing regarding the foreclosure of the couple’s home at 94 Dole Ave. in Crystal Lake. He appeared in an orange jumpsuit, had shackles around his ankles, wore handcuffs and was escorted by two McHenry County Sheriff’s Office deputies to the hearing. Cunningham apparently refused to appear for the hearing, which took place just a couple hours after the couple’s bond hearing.
Andrew Freund asked for the foreclosure matter to be continued to a later date and that all paperwork in the matter be sent to the McHenry County Correctional Facility. According to court documents, the couple owed $98,980 on the home as of July 2018.
The hearings come a day after the body of AJ Freund was found in a rural area near Woodstock and just over a week after Freud called to report Andrew missing. Authorities haven’t yet released a cause of death.
AJ Freund was found buried in a shallow grave and wrapped in plastic. Black said when confronted with forensic and cell phone evidence, Andrew’s parents provided information to police and the FBI that ultimately led to the discovery.
“To AJ’s family: It is my hope that you may have some solace in knowing that AJ is no longer suffering, and that his killers have been brought to justice,” Black said. He addressed 5-year-old AJ, saying, “We know you are at peace playing in heaven’s playground and are happy you no longer have to suffer.”
Cunningham and Freund have been placed in administrative segregation at the McHenry County Jail and are not being housed with the general population, according to McHenry County Sheriff’s Office officials. Cunningham, who is seven months pregnant, will receive maternal care while in jail.
“After the baby is delivered DCFS will determine what is to be done,” Sandra Rogers, spokeswoman for the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office wrote in an e-mail response.
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Both Cunningham and Freund are next expected in court on April 29.
Amie Schaenzer contributed to this article
Check back with Patch for updates on this developing story.