A.J. Freund case: Police report reveals harrowing details of boy's short life

After the body of 5-year-old Andrew "A.J." Freund was discovered in an Illinois field, tragic details of his short life are coming to light.

The boy's remains were found wrapped in plastic and dumped in a shallow grave in Woodstock on Wednesday, Crystal Lake Police Chief Jim Black said during a press conference.

Both of A.J.'s parents, JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund, are being charged with five counts of first-degree murder, as well as battery and failure to report a missing child, in their son's disappearance and death.

A recently released 60-page police report has revealed the poor living conditions and alleged abuse A.J. was subjected to before he died.

A.J. was taken into protective custody in 2013 by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), less than a month after he was born with opioids in his system. He spent the first several months of his life a foster home before he was returned to his mother.

In 2014, an unidentified woman called police on the boy's parents after finding a syringe on their kitchen floor, claiming they were using heroin. In 2015, A.J.’s father was disciplined and had his law license suspended for violating court orders dealing with his divorce and drug use, WGN reports.

DCFS was also called to the family's home twice in 2018 — on allegations of neglect in March and of abuse and neglect in December — although both sets of accusations were determined to be unfounded.

A.J. was first reported missing by his parents on the morning of April 18 from their home in Crystal Lake, approximately 50 miles northwest of Chicago. His parents claimed they had last seen their son around 9 p.m. the night before.

Responding officers reported that the residence, which is said to be in foreclosure, was "cluttered, dirty and in disrepair," with broken windows, dog feces and urine observed throughout the home.

In December 2018, police responding to a reported burglary at the home observed similarly deplorable conditions, noting that the smell of feces in A.J.'s room was "overwhelming."

A neighbor had also called police in September 2018 to express concern about the home, claiming the dilapidated house had no power.

The Crystal Lake Police Department thanked the community for their "support and assistance" following a week-long search for the victim.

"To AJ’s family, it is our hope that you may have some solace in knowing that AJ is no longer suffering and his killers have been brought to justice," it wrote. "To AJ, we know you are at peace playing in heaven’s playground and are happy you no longer have to suffer."