Chicago mom who pleaded guilty in the death of 5-year-old son AJ Freund challenges plea, says she was hearing demons at time of murder
Almost three years after a Chicago woman pleaded guilty to beating her 5-year-old son and forcing him into a freezing cold shower, leading to his death, she has now claimed that she was dealing with postpartum depression and psychosis.
JoAnn Cunningham, 39, has petitioned for post-conviction relief over her 35-year sentence after claiming that she did not receive proper legal counsel before her guilty plea, according to the Northwest Herald.
AJ Freund, Cunningham’s son, was found dead in April 2019, wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave near the family’s home in Crystal Lake, after his father, Andrew Freund, told police that he was dead.
According to prosecutors, Cunningham, who was pregnant at the time, got mad with AJ after he tried to hide soiled underwear, forced him to stand in the frigid shower for 20 minutes, hit him on the head with the shower head, then put him to bed naked, where he died.
Andrew Freund, 63, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery of a child and concealment of a homicidal death and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Cunningham pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on July 17, 2020, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Now, Cunningham says she “believed she was possessed and that her son was possessed” when she killed AJ and blamed “postpartum syndrome psychosis” for thinking her son was a demon, according to the Northwest Herald. She also claims she tried to get a priest, a chaplain and AJ’s father to perform an exorcism.
Judge Robert Wilbrandt said he will decide by June 1 whether to allow Cunningham’s petition to move forward, which could result in a new trial.
AJ’s younger brother and a daughter who Cunningham gave birth to behind bars have been placed in foster care.
