AJ Freund’s family said that they are “disappointed and saddened” that a judge sentenced JoAnn Cunningham to only 35 years in prison for murdering the young boy. “We, the family of our beloved Andrew (AJ), are disappointed and saddened by the ruling of the Judge,” AJ Freund’s family, besides his parents, said in a statement […]
Sam Borcia
Sam Borcia is the CEO and Publisher of Lake and McHenry County Scanner based in Gurnee, Illinois. His focus is reporting on local news covering crime, government, traffic and more around Lake County, Illinois and McHenry County, Illinois. Sam founded Lake and McHenry County Scanner in January 2012 and has extensive experience covering news. His reporting has garnered coverage by major national and international outlets. He graduated from DePaul University in Chicago. You can get in touch with Sam by emailing [email protected].
Posted inLocal News
Highwood man charged with producing child porn, having sex with a dog
A Highwood man has been charged with producing and possessing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography, prosecutors said. He is also accused of having sex with a dog. Thomas W. Keller, 40, of the 300 block of Grove Avenue in Highwood, was charged with five counts of child pornography, possession of methamphetamine, sexual […]
Posted inLocal News
JoAnn Cunningham sentenced to 35 years in prison for murdering her son
A judge has sentenced JoAnn Cunningham to 35 years in prison for the first-degree murder of her son, AJ Freund. McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt handed down the sentence around 1:50 p.m. Friday. Cunningham, 37, of Crystal Lake, will be required to serve 100% of the sentence and will have to serve three years of […]
Posted inLocal News
Driver charged after hitting bicyclist, fleeing the scene in McHenry
A bicyclist was flown to the hospital after he was struck by a car that fled the scene in McHenry Thursday evening, police said. The McHenry Police Department and McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded around 11:23 p.m. Thursday to the 300 block of North Street for a report of a vehicle crash. McHenry Police […]
Posted inLocal News
Man detained after climbing up radio tower in Woodstock
A 24-year-old man experiencing a mental health crisis was detained after trying to climb a radio tower at the McHenry County Government Center in Woodstock. A McHenry County sheriff’s deputy observed a man scaling the fence to a McHenry County Emergency Management Agency radio tower around 12:44 p.m. Thursday. Additional members of the McHenry County […]
Posted inLocal News
‘I am a child of god,’ JoAnn Cunningham says at her sentencing hearing for the murder of AJ Freund
JoAnn Cunningham gave a tearful statement during her sentencing hearing in the murder of her son, AJ Freund, and said that she is a “child of God” and asked forgiveness. Her sentencing hearing began on Thursday with McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt presiding over the case. Cunningham, 37, of Crystal Lake, pleaded guilty in December […]
Posted inLocal News
Zion woman charged in fatal hit-and-run of bicyclist in Waukegan
A Zion woman has been charged with leaving the scene after fatally striking a bicyclist with an SUV in Waukegan last month, police said. Linda J. Ray, 47, of Zion, was charged with one count of leaving the scene of an accident causing death. The Waukegan Police Department said that Chad Aiello, 37, of Kenosha, […]
Posted inLocal News
Man flown to the hospital after crashing car into tree in Woodstock
A 27-year-old man was flown to the hospital with serious injuries after he crashed his car into a tree near Woodstock Tuesday evening. The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 10:03 p.m. Tuesday to the 2900 block of South Country Club Road in unincorporated Woodstock for a single-vehicle crash. McHenry County […]
Posted inState News
Pritzker announces new health regions, plans to curb COVID-19 resurgence
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a new COVID-19 mitigation plan on Wednesday designed to combat any resurgence of cases in Illinois. The plan is based on months of additional data and research as public health experts learn more about the coronavirus and how it spreads. “Illinois now has the lowest infection rates […]