The parents of Andrew “AJ” Freund, the 5-year-old boy who was allegedly murdered in Illinois April, pleaded not guilty on May 10 and requested jury trials.
Joann Cunningham, 36, and Andrew Freund Sr., 60, were indicted on multiple counts including first-degree murder by a grand jury on May 9.
On Friday, they appeared in court and were formally charged with the combined 61 counts.
They each entered a not guilty plea and attorneys for Freund Sr. requested a psychological evaluation due to an opioid addiction, which was granted, reported CBS Chicago. Prosecutors didn’t fight the request.
Both defendants requested jury trials.
Freund’s body was found on April 24 about seven miles from the family’s house in Crystal Lake. It was buried in a shallow grave.
Police arrested Cunningham and Freund Sr. later that day.
Police said that they obtained forensic evidence obtained from a cell phone, which they confronted the parents with.
The parents then “provided information that ultimately led to the recovery” of the boy.
The parents initially claimed that AJ was kidnapped but police found no evidence scouring the surrounding area and eventually zeroed in on the family’s house, eventually uncovering the grave.
Police later said that Freund Sr., who is known as Drew, blamed his son’s injuries on the boy’s mother and said she started hurting AJ after the boy lied about soiling his pants.
“Drew also said that he believed AJ died on Monday morning after spending a prolonged time in a cold shower,” an affidavit, obtained by the Chicago Tribune, stated.
“Drew explained he wanted Joann to stop with the hard physical beatings and do some less violent form of punishment. Drew said cold showers was decided (as the alternative). Drew said on or about … 4/15/19, AJ had lied about soiled underwear and he was subjected to a cold shower. Drew said he helped AJ out of the shower after he’d been there approximately 20 minutes, and put AJ to bed ‘cold, wet, and naked.’”
“Drew said Joann got up and checked on AJ and that was when she got Drew and used Drew’s phone to search for child CPR. Drew advised at some point that he believed AJ had died,” the affidavit stated.
“Drew said the next day he took AJ’s body to the basement and stored him in a tote. He said on the night of 4/17/19 he placed Andrew inside of several trash bags, placed the body in the trunk of his car, and drove him to an area in Woodstock. Drew said he dug a shallow grave for AJ, placed him in it, covered it with straw, and left,” it added.
