Posted inState News

Lawmakers call for audit of Illinois DCFS due to child deaths, ongoing issues

Several lawmakers are calling for an audit of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as the department faces ongoing issues, including recent deaths of children under its care. State Reps. Tom Weber, R-Lake Villa, David Welter, R-Morris, and Chris Bos, R-Lake Zurich, discussed House Resolution 824 calling for action to be taken at […]

Posted inLocal News

Lawmakers, ‘Roar for AJ’ group to hold rally in remembrance of AJ Freund at Illinois State Capitol

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 […]

Posted inLocal News

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,” […]

Posted inLocal News

‘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 […]

Posted inLocal News

Two former DCFS employees charged in AJ Freund case released from jail on bond

Two former DCFS caseworkers facing felony charges for their mishandling of AJ Freund abuse investigations were released from jail after posting bail. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday evening that arrest warrants had been served on Carlos J. Acosta, 54, of the 500 block of Prairie Ridge Drive in Woodstock, and Andrew R. Polovin, […]

Posted inLocal News

‘We are disappointed in the ruling,’ family of AJ Freund says in statement after Cunningham sentenced

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 […]