Missing Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund's body found; parents Joann Cunningham, Andrew Freund Sr. charged
CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. (WLS) -- The parents of 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy Andrew "AJ" Freund have been charged with murder after his body was found Wednesday.
AJ's mother, Joann 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.
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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 in a shallow grave, wrapped in plastic, said Crystal Lake Police Department Chief Jim Black said Wednesday afternoon.
AJ's parents reported him missing last Thursday, six days ago, saying they last saw him when he went to bed Wednesday night. An exhaustive search effort by Crystal Lake police and the FBI has been underway since then, largely focused on the Freund home.
"It was apparent to me that nobody was going to sleep and nobody will sleep until justice is brought for AJ. This is the beginning of that process," said FBI Agent Jeffery Sallet at a Wednesday afternoon press conference announcing the charges.
During the press conference, Crystal Lake police said that after police confronted them with evidence from their cell phone records, implicating them in AJ's death, both parents provided information that helped investigators locate the boy's body in a rural area in Woodstock.
"Information was obtained from forensic analysis of cell phone data. Once presented with the evidence obtained by investigators, both Joann and Andrew Sr. provided information that ultimately led to recovery," said Crystal Lake Police Chief Jim Black.
The parents were both in police custody Wednesday and will be transported to the McHenry County Jail ahead of their bond hearings.
Crystal Lake police, assisted by the McHenry County Sheriff's deputies and FBI evidence specialists, converged on an isolated parcel of land off Dean Street in unincorporated Woodstock around 6 a.m. Law enforcement moved back onlookers and used a drone camera to help survey the area leading to the woods.
Eventually investigators erected a field tent to shield their work. Authorities said they discovered a shallow grave and were able to identify the remains within as AJ's.
The stretch of rural McHenry County is sometimes visited by off-road motorists and others seeking to hide their activities, neighbors said.
After charges were announced, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services released a statement, saying in part, "This news is heartbreaking. Protecting vulnerable children who come to our attention is at the core of our mission at DCFS. All of us feel this loss."
The statement continued to say that DCFS is cooperating fully with law enforcement for the ongoing investigation, and promised that the department would review "the entirety of our work with Andrew's family to understand our shortcomings and to be fully transparent with the public on any steps we are taking to address the issues."
TIMELINE: DCFS interaction with AJ Freund's family
On Tuesday, Crystal Lake police said officers have been called to the home 17 times since AJ was born. The Crystal Lake Police Department released reports detailing what they call "unacceptable" living conditions along with alleged drug abuse and concerns the DCFS had for the children's welfare.
DCFS last had contact with the family in December of last year.
Before being charged, Cunningham was inside the police station for several hours Wednesday morning, sources told ABC7. Cunningham's attorney was seen leaving the police station and had no comment.
The cause of death has not yet been determined. The McHenry County Coroner's Office will conduct an autopsy.
Earlier Wednesday, police were seen removing items from the boy's home in Crystal Lake, including a small mattress and a shovel, and brought them to the Crystal Lake police station.
WATCH: Evidence collected from Crystal Lake home of missing boy
Police also released the family's first 911 call that sent local, state and federal authorities on a massive search for AJ Freund.
911 Dispatcher: "And when was the last time you'd seen him?"
Andrew Freund Sr.: "Last night. Uh, probably about 9:30, when he went to bed."
911 Dispatcher: "Do you know where he might have went?"
Andrew Freund Sr.: "No. Um, we've canvassed the neighborhood. I went to the local park. Um, local gas station down here where we sometimes take him to buy treats."
"I spoke with the assistant principal over at the school and where the park is and they haven't seen him or any other child," Freund added. "I have no idea where he would be."
TIMELINE: What we know about the search for AJ Freund
