JoAnn Cunningham and her husband Andrew Freund Sr. are charged with first-degree murder in 5-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund’s killing. | Crystal Lake Police Department

Suburban Chicago News Crime

Parents of slain 5-year-old AJ Freund plead not guilty

By Mick Zawislak | Daily Herald

The parents of slain 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund pleaded not guilty Friday to murder and other charges in connection with his death.

Andrew Freund Sr. and JoAnn Cunningham through their public defenders entered the pleas in separate proceedings before Judge Robert Wilbrandt. Both are due back in McHenry County circuit court June 18.

Indictments against the pair were filed Thursday. Cunningham was charged with 20 counts involving the death of her son, including first-degree murder. Conviction on that charge carries a sentence of 20 to 60 years in prison but can be extended to natural life if the murder is found beyond a reasonable doubt to be accompanied by “exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty,” according to the indictment.

Read more at The Daily Herald.

MORE ABOUT THE AJ FREUND CASE

• DCFS workers stuck with massive case overloads before AJ Freund’s beating death

• Missing boy, 5, lived in Crystal Lake home full of dog feces, records show

• State investigates handling of AJ Freund case after boy found dead

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A timeline of the AJ Freund murder investigation

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2 DCFS workers fired over handling of AJ Freund case

A little boy’s murder, a mother’s guilty plea and the future of DCFS

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