AJ Freund's mother gives birth to baby girl in custody after son's murder

WLS logo
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
AJ Freund's mom gives birth to baby girl in custody
The mother of AJ Freund gave birth in jail while awaiting trial for his murder.

The mother of Crystal Lake murder victim AJ Freund, 5, gave birth in jail while awaiting trial for her son's death.

The Northwest Herald reports that Joann Cunningham gave birth to a girl on May 31.

The baby is being held in protective custody while both Cunningham and her ex-boyfriend Andrew Freund Sr. are being held in connection with AJ Freund's disappearance and death.

Cunningham, was charged with five counts of first-degree murder, four counts of aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated domestic battery, and one count of failure to report a missing or child death.

Andrew Freund Sr. was charged with five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery, one count of aggravated domestic battery, two counts of concealment of a homicidal death, and one count of failure to report a missing or child death.

The charges came days after Cunningham, who is seven months pregnant, made a plea for AJ's return to ABC News.

"I just want my kids, that's all I have. Those are my life, my kids," Cunningham said.

The boy was found six days after he was reported missing in a shallow grave, wrapped in plastic, Crystal Lake Police Department Chief Jim Black said Wednesday afternoon.

Police say the two killed the 5-year-old boy in their Crystal Lake home and then buried his body at a site in Woodstock.

WATCH: AJ Freund's body found 6 days after he was reported missing

The parents of 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy Andrew "AJ" Freund, whose body was found Wednesday, were charged in his murder.

WATCH: DCFS timeline of interactions with AJ Freund's family

Here's a closer look at the Illinois Department of Child & Family Services's connection to AJ Freund starting at his birth.

SEE INSIDE: Photos from AJ Fruend's home show filthy conditions

SEE INSIDE: Photos show dilapidated and filthy conditions inside the Crystal Lake home in 2013, before and around the birth of AJ Freund.

WATCH: DCFS releases full history with AJ Freund's family

Here's a closer look at the Illinois Department of Child & Family Services's connection to AJ Freund starting at his birth.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

AJ Freund home photos from 2013 show filthy conditions

Andrew 'AJ' Freund's foster family releases statement: 'AJ was loved by us'

AJ Freund death: Parents of 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy appear in court Monday

Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund funeral arrangements announced; DCFS releases timeline, 2 workers reassigned

Two child deaths two years apart have DCFS back on hotseat

AJ Freund cause of death released, parents bond set at $5M each for Joann Cunningham, Andrew Freund, Sr.

How did Crystal Lake police crack the case of AJ Freund?

'He got a raw deal and God's going to fix it': Crystal Lake mourns AJ Freund after body found

Missing Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund's body found; parents Joann Cunningham, Andrew Freund Sr. charged

Missing Crystal Lake boy: 911 call reporting Andrew 'AJ' Freund, 5, missing, police history with family released

Missing Crystal Lake boy Andrew 'AJ' Freund: Father continues search, mother pleads for boy's, 5, return

Search continues for missing 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy, father vows own investigation

Crystal Lake community holds vigil for missing boy to "light the way for AJ"

Missing Crystal Lake boy Andrew 'AJ' Freund: Boy, 5, did not leave home on foot, police say

Crystal Lake boy missing: FBI joins search for 5-year-old Andrew 'AJ' Freund

RELATED: AJ Freund Crystal Lake missing person report: Police describe father as 'calm,' mother as 'frantic'