AJ Freund’s mother pleads guilty to murder

AJ Freund’s mother unexpectedly pleaded guilty to the boy’s murder during a surprise court appearance Thursday morning.

JoAnn Cunningham, 36, of Crystal Lake will face 20 to 60 years in prison when sentenced next year, after pleading guilty to a first-degree murder charge that had been modified to eliminate the possibility of a life sentence.

The plea deal removed language describing the killing as “brutal and heinous” from the murder charge, which therefore caps her maximum sentence at 60 years. Cunningham will be required to serve 100% of the sentence, prosecutors said.

A sentencing status hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30.

Prosecutors said the plea deal does not require Cunningham to testify against AJ’s 60-year-old father, Andrew Freund Sr., who also is charged with murder and other felonies related to the 5-year-old boy’s death.

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