AJ Freund, a missing boy from Crystal Lake, Illinois, died from blunt trauma, confirmed coroner

The Coroner's Office in Northern Illinois has confirmed the presence of a body found in a shallow grave is a 5 year old boy who disappeared from his suburban home in Chicago a week ago. Andrew "AJ" Freund died as a result of head trauma caused by several blunt injuries, the McHenry County Coroner's Office announced Thursday afternoon.

The boy's remains were found wrapped in plastic and buried in a remote area near Woodstock, Illinois, about seven kilometers from the boy's home, said Wednesday the Crystal Lake police chief, James Black. Both parents of the child were charged with murder, murder and other charges and were fined $ 5 million each when they appeared Thursday morning in court. , reports CBS Chicago.

On April 18, his father, Andrew Freund Sr., father of the boy, said that he had seen the boy when he went to bed the night before. Elder Freund, 60, said the boy was missing when he returned home the next morning, after consulting a doctor early.

During Wednesday morning interviews with Crystal Lake Police and the FBI, Andrew Freund Sr. and the child's mother, JoAnn Cunningham, 35, were confronted with a forensic analysis of the data mobile phones developed by the investigators. Both then provided information that led to the body's recovery, Black said.

Criminal complaints allege that, on April 15, each parent forced the boy to remain under a cold shower for an extended period of time, then struck him to the body, "knowing that these acts created a high probability of death or death. Serious bodily harm. "According to the prosecutor's account, the murder took place three days before the boy was reported missing.

A complaint for Cunningham also alleges that she hit the boy on March 4, and a complaint for Andrew Freund Sr. claims to have buried the body of the child.

"For the AJ family, I hope you'll have some comfort knowing that AJ is no longer suffering and that her killers have been brought to justice," Black said after their arrest on Wednesday. . "I would also like to thank the community for their support and assistance during this difficult time, and for AJ, we know you are at peace and play in the sky playground and we are happy that we will not have to suffer anymore. "

Andrew Freund, father, left, and JoAnn Cunningham, parents of the boy killed AJ Cunningham, pictured in a sketch of a court appearance Thursday

Sheryl Cook

Cunningham is charged with five counts of first degree murder, four aggravated battery charges, two counts of murder of a domestic battery and a charge of no. -declaration of a missing child or his death.

Elder Andrew Freund has been charged with five counts of first degree murder, two aggravated battery charges, one aggravated domestic battery chief, two counts of concealment of mischief. a homicide death and a breach of duty to report a missing child or the death of a child. .

Cunningham, who is seven months pregnant, seemed to hold back tears in court Thursday, as prosecutors detailed the charges, CBS reported Chicago.

Investigators were seen at the family's home Wednesday removing a shovel, the mattress from a child's bed, several large bags and a large plastic bin, and loading them into a van. team of evidence, depending on the station.

State child protection officials entrusted custody of the youngest son of the couple. The family has a long history with the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services, after A.J. was born with opiates in his system in 2013, according to CBS Chicago. The ministry promised a full review of the case.