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Hundreds of people in mourning lined up Friday at Crystal Lake Funeral Home to pay homage to a five-year-old boy who was not known to many, but whose tragic death and surrounding circumstances left them torn apart asking why more not done to save him.
But, besides the many tears of Andrew "AJ" Freund, he hoped his sad story would spur more action to protect children from the type of life and death that the authorities told the Crystal Lake boy.
AJ was killed last month and his parents were charged with murder and other crimes after discovering his body in a shallow grave near Woodstock. The boy was born with opiates in his system and lived in a home often visited by the police and the Department of Child and Family Services of Illinois.
A video showing AJ Freund, a 5-year-old beaten boy, on his mother's phone helped to solve the case, research was done for "child cpr", according to authorities
"It's unfortunate," said Sarah Dakof of Crystal Lake, who, along with her 2-year-old daughter, Skylar, waited patiently in the growing queue in front of the Davenport family funeral home and crematorium. "Losing a life in general … but especially so young. Let's hope the DCFS standards increase, people are held accountable. Maybe AJ will be the face of change. "
The people, young and old, walked solemnly into the funeral home and passed in front of the tiny wooden casket of the child, which was engraved with a cross. An honor guard was watching and several comforting dogs were on duty. Floral arrangements were on display throughout the living room, including one from the Chicago Cubs, another from the Crystal Lake Lions Club and another from a Florida family.
There were plush toys, a Batman balloon and toy trucks near the casket and around the funeral home, as well as artwork from St. Mary's Kindergarten in Woodstock. And there were big pictures of a smiling AJ.
Jenny Carlini of Crystal Lake said that if the atmosphere was sad, this opportunity gave the community the opportunity to "restore the situation of the important."
"At first I felt angry," she said, but while she was watching the hundreds of people grieving on Terra Cotta Avenue who were waiting to come in, she added, "Look at this that we can do as a community.
"We have to take care of our children," she said. "If we do not do it, we will have a very dark future."
The Tribune reported that DCFS, who had family contact for several years, missed signs of problems despite calls to the emergency number and police reports documenting squalid living conditions drug addiction, domestic violence, suspicious bruising and, sometimes, uncooperative parents. The acting director of the DCFS said the agency was reviewing its "gaps" in the case and would take steps to address these issues.
The mother of a friend of AJ Freund describes the day a 5-year-old boy was missing.
Lovely Sauers of Crystal Lake asked why DCFS did not contact other local agencies and community groups in the case of AJ.
She said "there were so many resources" that could have been called upon to help, including shelters, court lawyers and local churches, schools and shelters.
"Crystal Lake is a family community," said Sauers. "It's a good community. Having this at our back door is shameful and it is disturbing.
AJ was missing by her parents on April 18th. He was found six days later. An autopsy determined that he had died as a result of blunt trauma to the head. His parents, Andrew Freund and JoAnn Cunningham, are currently being held in McHenry County Prison instead of a $ 5 million bail.
According to court documents, a two-minute video showing a severely beaten AJ on her mother's cell phone helped to conclude the investigation into her murder. Cunningham's video call, taken more than a month before AJ's death, showed the severely bruised boy in his face and body while he was sentenced for urinating in bed, according to the documents.
The boy's father said that the night of his death, AJ was forced to take a long cold shower and was put to bed "cold, wet and naked" before being found dead, according to the documents.
The parents are accused of murder, serious violence, domestic abuse, failure to report a missing child and, in the case of the father, concealment of a homicide. Cunningham has also been charged with an aggravated battery related to the video.
Blue ribbons adorned poles and trees along Terra Cotta in honor of AJ. Several posters showed images of AJ with angel wings, as well as the words "In memory of AJ's love". A flag was a half of the staff of a local company.
Saga AJ Freund: The family's interactions with DCFS and the unfolding of the tragedy »
In the nearby Twisted Stem floral design company, a large blue-ball arch was on display. Owner and designer John Regan had just finished his thousandth blue bow. He handed them out to community members for them to expose them since AJ was reported missing on April 18th.
"I am helping to turn the city into blue today," he said. "It's only a simple gesture."
Among those in mourning was Elissa Emmert of Crystal Lake, who was holding and swinging her 21-month-old son, Levi. She said that she had come "to show her support for AJ. My heart breaks for what happened to him. "
Michelle Murphy of Cary was present because she wanted to honor him.
"If they did not want it, they could have done something else," she said. "Do not kill him. There are other things you could do.
One year before AJ Freund's death, a McHenry County Attorney said he was worried about how the DCFS was handling business in his county.
AJ is survived by a 4 year old brother, currently supported as part of a DCFS security plan. His mother is also pregnant. An online account remains active to raise funds for AJ's siblings. Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/d62g4d-rest-in-peace-aj.
The funeral of AJ will be private.
Amanda Marrazzo is an independent journalist.
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