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The murder of 5-year-old A.J. Freund has united the Crystal Lake community, and one family is creating a unique program to help foster children find a sense of home.
The parents of 5-year-old A.J. Freund are back in court today, to be arraigned on charges they forced their son to stand in a cold shower for an extended time, and then beat him to death.
Four months before 5-year-old A.J. Freund was killed, he told a doctor "maybe someone hit me with a belt. Maybe mommy didn't mean to hurt me" after police found a mysterious bruise on his hip, according to a timeline released by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Crystal Lake police on Thursday said people have been calling police to ask where to donate money to the brother of AJ Freund, the Crystal Lake boy who died last week after being beaten by his parents.
Four months before 5-year-old A.J. Freund's parents allegedly beat him to death, there appear to be significant discrepancies between a police report noting deplorable conditions inside the family's house, and a home visit by a DCFS investigator the next day, which ultimately deemed an allegation of neglect to be unfounded.
New information is expected to be revealed Friday in the case of AJ Freund, the 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy whose parents are charged in his murder.
One late night during a snow storm she says she heard calls for help coming from the family's car. The boys were yelling they were cold.
A.J. Freund's parents forced the 5-year-old into a cold shower for an extended period of time, and the 5-year-old was repeatedly struck all over his body, leading to his death, McHenry County prosecutors alleged in court Thursday morning.
Missing for nearly a week, the search for A.J. ended in a rural field, with his parents in jail and accused of dumping the 5-year-old's body in a shallow grave about eight miles from the family's Crystal Lake home.
Who failed A.J. Freund? His parents are arrested and charged in his death and accused of hiding his body. But they weren't the only ones involved in his life.
The parents of a 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy, who were charged with his murder, have prior criminal records, ranging from retail theft to battery.
Both of 5-year-old A.J. Freund's parents, Andrew Freund Sr. and JoAnn Cunningham, have been charged with murder, after a body believed to be the missing 5-year-old boy was found buried in a shallow grave near Woodstock, more than seven miles from his family's home in Crystal Lake.
"We know you are at peace playing in heaven's playground and are happy you no longer have to suffer."
Crystal Lake police planned to provide an update Wednesday on their investigation into the disappearance of 5-year-old Andrew "A.J." Freund, who was reported missing last week.
While searchers are still looking for Andrew "A.J." Freund, the missing 5-year-old boy from Crystal Lake, police have detailed previous contact with his family and stomach-churning conditions inside the home.
The latest visit was this past December. An officer clearly stated the house is "cluttered, dirty and in disrepair." Officers said they saw dog feces and urine throughout the house. This was in the middle of winter and officers said the windows were falling apart. The rooms cold.
DCFS investigated Cunningham for neglect back in 2013 after Andrew was born with opiates in his system. The agency took Andrew into protective custody and placed him in a foster home. He returned home in 2015 and records show the case was closed in 2016.
The 911 call the father of missing boy A.J. Freund made the morning the 5-year-old was reported missing was released to CBS 2 Tuesday morning.
The timeline of the A.J. Freund case.
As Crystal Lake Police continue to investigate the disappearance of 5-year-old Andrew "A.J." Freund, his mother will be in court in an effort to regain custody of her younger son, Parker.
It's been nearly five days since 5-year-old Andrew "A.J." Freund disappeared from his home in Crystal Lake, and it's still a mystery what happened to him.
A call for comfort echoed through a Crystal Lake park as people gathered with candles and looks of concern for a missing five-year-old.
A day after 5-year-old Andrew "A.J." Freund went missing from his home in northwest suburban Crystal Lake, police said there is no indication he was abducted, and did not walk away from his house. Their search is now focused on the family's home.
A 5-year-old boy has been reported missing in northwest suburban Crystal Lake.
A Crystal Lake woman narrowly escaped a burning house after it caught fire Friday night.
A winter weather advisory will take effect overnight for the Chicago area overnight. Here's what you can expect.
A man was found shot to death in the Garfield Park neighborhood on Friday night.
The annual arrival of the Christmas Tree Ship is underway in Chicago on Saturday.
Treating rare neurological diseases in children is a difficult, sometimes gut-wrenching process with no guarantees, but a Chicago doctor is determined to extend and save lives.
Former Robbins Police Chief Carl Scott, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to beating a man in an interview room, apologized on Friday and took accountability for what happened.
The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide the legality of President Trump's executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship.
President Trump has led the charge to create more GOP-friendly congressional districts in the 2026 midterm elections.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is set to retire in 2026, but before he leaves Congress he is making one last attempt to pass the DREAM Act.
Former Chicago Tribune publisher and editor-in-chief R. Bruce Dold passed away this week.
Authorities say the FBI has arrested a man suspected of placing pipe bombs outside RNC and DNC headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
A condo owner in Country Club Hills says he's forced to sell his home after his condo association failed to reimburse him for repairs to his leaking roof. Edward Hadnott's condo has sat empty since a major roof leak in 2022.
The U.S. stopped minting pennies this week, and some groups have issued a warning about the headaches that can create for some businesses and consumers.
Why is one school in the west Chicago suburb of Lisle paying a water bill three times higher than another? The answer has to do with a private utility company.
The Food and Drug Administration is warning about additional cookware brands that could be leaching lead into your food.
Walgreens said it will close its office space in Chicago's Old Post Office building.
The newest measles vaccination numbers released by Chicago Public Schools shows immunizations are finally moving in the right direction.
Two pregnant Black women recently faced alarming neglect at hospitals in Indiana and Texas, highlighting racial disparities in maternal care.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed a bill aimed at protecting vaccine access in Illinois.
Roseland Community Hospital on Monday celebrated the opening of a new sickle cell treatment clinic.
Consumers with the imported pans should throw them away due to the severe health risks posed by lead, the agency warns.
U.S. Steel says it'll resume making steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois amid strengthening demand.
Traffic at O'Hare International Airport is growing faster than expected, and this has Chicago city leaders wanting to make big changes to future construction plans at the airport.
Small Business Saturday was disrupted by the winter storm for many business owners in Chicago, but in the Rogers Park neighborhood, a group of business owners came together to draw customers.
Three different times over the past year, popular and longstanding Chicago stage theater spaces have made headlines for their demise. But it's not all bad news by any stretch.
A federal judge has called out an immigration enforcement agent for using artificial intelligence to write the narrative of a use-of-force report as just a small part of a scathing opinion that rebutted federal officials' narratives about appropriate force used against protesters and others during an ongoing immigration crackdown in Chicago.
Frank Gehry was known for designing the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Netflix on Friday said it will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO.
Starting Wednesday, riders on the Chicago Transit Authority system will hear a recognizable Chicago voice during their commutes.
Three different times over the past year, popular and longstanding Chicago stage theater spaces have made headlines for their demise. But it's not all bad news by any stretch.
Joe Colborn, better known as Joe "JoBo" Bohannon on Chicago radio, died this week.
The annual arrival of the Christmas Tree Ship is underway in Chicago on Saturday.
Dress up in your favorite elf costumes or other holiday attire for “Elfin’ Around the Depot” in Berwyn’s Depot.
The annual arrival of the Christmas Tree Ship is underway in Chicago on Saturday.
A man was found shot to death in the Garfield Park neighborhood.
Meet Paisley, the PAWS pet of the week! The 8-year-old is easy going and is looking for a quiet home.
A winter weather advisory will take effect overnight for the Chicago area overnight. Here's what you can expect.
A U.S. Coast Guard ship carrying 1,200 Christmas trees from Michigan made its way Navy Pier.
A man was found shot to death in the Garfield Park neighborhood on Friday night.
Chicago firefighters were called to a two-alarm building fire near a school on the city's Northwest Side Friday afternoon.
It was supposed to be a memorable day at the Bears game for a Chicago family, but they said not only did they not get into Soldier Field, they believe they were scammed out of about $15,000.
A Chicago woman battling ALS said she's been struggling just to get a disabled parking space in front of her Bridgeport home.
Days after new Cook County Chief Judge Charles Beach ordered an urgent review of the county's electronic monitoring program, Sheriff Tom Dart said this crisis isn't new, and that he's been warning lawmakers of problems for years.
Charles Beach was sworn in on Monday as Cook County's first new chief judge in 24 years, and takes over amid a political firestorm over what appears to be systemic issues with how accused criminals are being monitored before trial.
Some Chicagoans found out the hard way on Monday that the overnight winter parking ban is in effect.
The electronic monitoring system in Cook County has come under increased scrutiny, after a woman was set on fire in a horrific arson attack on the Blue Line, with critics demanding answers as to why the suspect wasn't already behind bars.
Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 36 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 28 and the Indiana Pacers beat the struggling Chicago Bulls 120-105 on Friday night.
Sitting in 1st-place in the NFC standings isn't the only feel-good story for the Bears, as cornerback Nahshon Wright was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Month.
The Bulls dropped to 9-12 with their fifth loss in a row.
Braeden Bowman forced overtime for the Golden Knights when he put in his own rebound with 2:28 left in the third period.
Caleb Williams plans on picking up right where he left off the last time he faced the Packers.
The special edition locket was inspired by the James Bond film "Octopussy," which revolves around a plot to steal a rare Faberge egg.
Authorities say the FBI has arrested a man suspected of placing pipe bombs outside RNC and DNC headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
A woman from Chicago's northwest suburbs appeared in court Thursday for a shooting that killed another woman in the South Loop in September.
The man charged with pushing a CTA passenger onto the tracks at a Blue Line station in Chicago's western suburbs on Monday was ordered held in jail, after repeatedly interrupting the judge and prosecutors during his first court appearance on Wednesday.
A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to take a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of an immigrant rights group.
