http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/source-missing-boy-s-body-found-in-woodstock

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. (AP) - Authorities searching for a missing 5-year-old Illinois boy who had lived in deplorable conditions dug up his body Wednesday and charged his parents with murder, sadly declaring that the youngster would "no longer have to suffer."

The body, believed to be that of Andrew "AJ" Freund, was wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave in a rural area of Woodstock in McHenry County, Crystal Lake police Chief James Black said.

Black said investigators went to the site after they interviewed the boy's parents overnight and presented them with cellphone evidence. Woodstock is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Chicago and a few miles from the family's home in Crystal Lake.

http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/police-interview-father-of-missing-boy

"This is not the outcome that we want to talk about ... but it is the unfortunate result," said Jeffrey Sallet, who runs the FBI in northern Illinois.

The parents, Andrew Freund Sr. and JoAnn Cunningham, each face charges of first-degree murder and other crimes. An email seeking comment was sent to Cunningham's lawyer. It wasn't immediately known if Freund has a lawyer.

The couple reported AJ missing last Thursday, telling officers they had last seen him at bedtime the previous night. Freund told a dispatcher that they'd checked "closets, the basement, the garage, everywhere," but investigators quickly knocked down the possibility of a kidnapping.

Speaking to reporters, Black had a message for AJ's relatives: "It is my hope that you may have some solace in knowing that AJ is no longer suffering and his killers have been brought to justice."

Crystal Lake police had visited the house over the years, according to records released by the department. One report described the home as littered with dog feces and urine, including a child's bedroom where the "smell of feces was overwhelming." Another report said the house was "cluttered, dirty and in disrepair," and sometimes without electricity.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, known as DCFS, had contact with the family since AJ was born with opiates in his body in 2013. The Northwest Herald said he was in foster care for two years before being returned to his parents. A younger brother was removed from the home last week.

Black said the cause of AJ's death remains under investigation. Police removed several items from the home, including a shovel, mattress, paper bags and a plastic storage tub.

"We know you are at peace playing in heaven's playground and are happy you no longer have to suffer," the police chief said in a public message intended for the boy.

DCFS acting director Marc Smith said AJ's death was "heartbreaking."

"After a nearly week-long search for missing Andrew "A.J.” Freund, law enforcement officials today confirmed his death. This news is heartbreaking. Protecting vulnerable children who come to our attention is at the core of our mission at DCFS. All of us feel this loss. Our priority is the care and safety of Andrew’s younger sibling. We will continue to cooperate with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation. The Department is committed to conducting a comprehensive review of the entirety of our work with Andrew’s family to understand our shortcomings and to be fully transparent with the public on any steps we are taking to address the issues," Smith said in a written statement.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker in March ordered an independent review of DCFS after the deaths of a 2-year-old girl in Decatur and a 2-year-old boy in Chicago. Child welfare workers had contacts with both families.

State Sen. Julie Morrison, a Deerfield Democrat, immediately called for "an independent, comprehensive audit of the DCFS hotline."

State Sen. Julie Morrison, a Deerfield Democrat, immediately called for "an independent, comprehensive audit of the DCFS hotline.

Yeah, We'll See

https://heavy.com/news/2019/04/joann-cunningham-aj-freund-mother/ - Her Mother Filed Charges and Reported to DCFS

1. Cunningham’s Mother, Lorelei Hughes, Filed a Petition Against Cunningham & Andrew Sr., Accusing Them of Neglect

In 2013, Cunningham’s mother, Lorelei Hughes, filed a petition for an order of protection for her grandson, Freund, accusing Cunningham and Andrew Sr. of neglecting him in the form of refusing to provide him medical care, food, and more.

In the document, which you can read above in full, Hughes maintained in part that Freund “was not provided food on a regular basis, eating a meal on approximately four of the seven days of the week and a remainder of the time there was no food int he house…the child was sent to school daily with no food and no money to purchase a lunch…there was no food in the residence and the child had only marshmallows and water to eat.”

1. Freund Was Born With Opiates in His System; Family Services Had On & Off Contact With the Freunds From 2013-2018

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has a long history of visits with the Freunds. Last Tuesday, after filing a Freedom of Information Act, Crystal Lake Police acquired and then released five years of police reports on the Freunds. You can read them here, though much of it is redacted.

In total, protective services visited the Freund home 17 times over five years. (Read the rest of what they found in the home) Disgusting.

1. Cunningham’s Other, Younger Son Has Been Placed in Protective Custody

The Freunds have another, younger son, whose named has not been released. The boy has since been placed in protective custody.

The Grandmother Lorelei also has custody of another son that was older than AJ. She has done her part but also has been failed miserably by DCFS. 17 times they had contact with the family but here we have a Sweet Little Boy that was brutally murdered by his 2 parents. Tragic.

http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/letter-prosecutor-in-freund-case-has-complained-about-dcfs-1

Letter - Prosecutor In Freund Case Has Complained About DCFS

WOODSTOCK, Ill. (AP) - Records show the prosecutor in the Illinois county where a 5-year-old boy's parents are charged in his death previously complained about the state's child welfare agency.

The Chicago Tribune reports McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally wrote a letter to Illinois Department of Children and Family Services officials nearly a year ago. In the letter, Kenneally details three other separate cases in which he alleges caseworkers failed to act or were uncooperative with his office.

Kenneally's office last week charged Andrew "AJ" Freund's parents with murder in the boy's death. Records have shown DCFS interacted with the family since AJ was born. The Crystal Lake boy was found wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave.

DCFS spokesman Jassen Strokosch says the agency has been meeting with prosecutors to address the issues and welcomes "criticisms that help us do a better job."

Yeah, We'll See

Pizzagate related because again here we have DCFS failing another one of Our Children, this time causing his death. I have no words.