The McHenry County State’s Attorney said he has “grave concerns” over a possible law eliminating DCFS automatically notifying state’s attorney’s offices when a newborn tests positive for drugs. Kenneally said in a statement the Illinois Medical Society were “flat wrong” that Senate Bill 3136 would not diminish the role of the state’s attorney’s office should […]
Tag: andrew freund
Posted inLocal News
5-year anniversary marked in murder, discovery of 5-year-old AJ Freund from Crystal Lake
The five-year anniversary was marked Wednesday in the discovery of AJ Freund, the 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy who was murdered by his parents and falsely reported missing before his body was found. JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr., the parents of AJ, reported the boy missing on April 18, 2019. Andrew Freund Sr. told dispatchers […]
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
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, […]
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
Charges filed against 2 DCFS workers who handled AJ Freund case
Two DCFS caseworkers that investigated abuse of AJ Freund, who was murdered in 2019, were arrested on Thursday and are facing felony charges. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday evening that arrest warrants had been served on Carlos J. Acosta, 54, of Woodstock, and Andrew R. Polovin, 48, of Island Lake. Acosta and Polovin […]