The case against Andrew Freund Sr., the father of slain Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund, might not go to trial as prosecutors and his attorney are expected to reach a plea deal by September 16. Andrew T. Freund Sr. appeared briefly Friday morning in a McHenry County courtroom for a trial date status hearing. Freund’s […]
Tag: murder
JoAnn Cunningham transferred to downstate prison to serve her 35-year sentence
JoAnn Cunningham has been sent to a downstate Illinois prison to serve her 35-year sentence for the murder of her 5-year-old Crystal Lake son, AJ Freund. Cunningham, 37, formerly of Crystal Lake, was transferred to Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln on Tuesday, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections. Records show she is expected to […]
Attorney for AJ Freund’s father in ‘serious’ negotiations with prosecutors
The attorney representing Andrew Freund in the murder of his 5-year-old son said that they are in ‘serious’ negotiations with prosecutors, hinting that a plea deal might be coming. Andrew T. Freund Sr. appeared briefly Thursday morning in a McHenry County courtroom for a trial date status hearing. Freund’s attorney, Special Public Defender Henry Sugden, […]
23 years in prison for man convicted of first-degree murder in Woodstock
A 39-year-old man who pleaded guilty to shooting and killing another man in Woodstock in 2017 has been sentenced to 23 years in prison. Victor Romero-Palos, 39, of Woodstock, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder in the death of Cesar Rangel, 41. Rangel was found shot in a parking lot on the east […]
‘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 […]
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 […]
‘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 […]
Former Chicago cop sentenced to 50 years in prison for killing his wife in Spring Grove
A 74-year-old man, who is a former Chicago police officer, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for fatally shooting his wife at their Spring Grove home in 2017. Lorin Volberding, 74, was previously found guilty in September 2019 of two counts of first-degree murder by McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge. On Wednesday, Volberding was […]
Man charged with murder in Hebron crash was trying to harm himself, official says
A Chicago man charged with first-degree murder was trying to harm himself when he intentionally drove into the opposite lanes of traffic and struck a van, killing the driver and seriously injuring the passenger last month near Hebron, prosecutors said. William P. Bishop, 42, of Chicago, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, three […]