Several lawmakers and the McHenry County “Roar for AJ” group will attend a rally Thursday at the Illinois State Capitol to bring awareness to child abuse. State Representative Steve Reick (R-Woodstock), State Senator Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) and Rep. Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa) will attend the rally, according to a statement. The rally will take place […]
Tag: aj freund
Posted inLocal News
Mother of AJ Freund files post-conviction petition, says she had been ‘seeing demons’ at time of her son’s killing
The Crystal Lake mother serving a 35-year prison sentence for killing her son, AJ Freund, has filed a post-conviction petition, saying that she had been seeing demons and believed she and her son were possessed. JoAnn Cunningham, 39, formerly of Crystal Lake, filed a post-conviction petition in McHenry County Circuit Court earlier this week. Cunningham […]
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Coroner rules Damari Perry’s death a homicide, says boy was found naked wrapped in bag
The coroner’s office has ruled 6-year-old Damari Perry’s death a homicide and said the boy had bruises and burns on his body. His cause of death was hypothermia. The Lake County, Indiana Coroner’s Office released the information Tuesday following a Monday autopsy. Damari had “scattered ecchymosis on the right leg, extremely cold core temperature, and […]
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‘A failed system’: State rep from Fox Lake calls for investigation into DCFS following death of Damari Perry
Illinois State Representative Tom Weber, based in Fox Lake, has called for an investigation into DCFS policies, laws and leadership following the death of 6-year-old Damari Perry. “The stories of incompetence from DCFS are sadly ever present; the improper removal of well-cared for children like baby girl Bougher, the deaths of AJ Freund and Damari […]
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12 police officers receive Medal of Valor for work in solving murder of 5-year-old Andrew Freund in Crystal Lake
12 members of the Crystal Lake Police Department have received a Medal of Valor and will be recognized as the “Most Outstanding Law Enforcement Officers of Year” for solving the murder of 5-year-old Andrew Freund. The police department members will be recognized this week as the 2019 “Most Outstanding Law Enforcement Officers of the Year,” […]
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Former DCFS worker pleads not guilty to felony charges in AJ Freund case
Former DCFS worker and current McHenry County Board member Carlos Acosta pleaded not guilty to felony charges in connection with his mishandling of AJ Freund abuse investigations. Carlos J. Acosta, 54, of Woodstock, and Andrew R. Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, were both charged with two felony counts of endangering the life of a child […]
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‘What AJ suffered was a corner of hell’: state’s attorney discusses plea deal given to father of AJ Freund
McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said what AJ Freund suffered leading up to his murder “was a corner of hell” as he discussed the plea deal accepted by the boy’s father on Friday. Kenneally held a press conference Friday evening following the guilty plea of Andrew Freund Sr., who was sentenced to 30 years […]
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Father of AJ Freund pleads guilty, sentenced to 30 years in prison in son’s death
Andrew Freund Sr. has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the murder of his 5-year-old son after accepting a plea deal to lesser charges on Friday. Freund pleaded guilty to aggravated battery to a child, a Class X felony, involuntary manslaughter, a Class 3 felony, and concealing a homicidal death, […]
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Former DCFS supervisor pleads not guilty to felony charges in AJ Freund case
Former DCFS supervisor Andrew Polovin has pleaded not guilty to felony charges in connection with his mishandling of AJ Freund abuse investigations. Andrew R. Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, and Carlos J. Acosta, 54, of Woodstock, were both charged with two felony counts of endangering the life of a child and one felony count of […]