The mother who was charged in the death of her 5-year-old son, A.J. Freund, has given birth while behind bars, according to reports.
The boy’s father Andrew “Drew” Freund Sr., 60, has also been charged with the boy’s death.
An autopsy has revealed that AJ died as a result of craniocerebral trauma caused by blunt force injuries to the head.
‘No Longer Have to Suffer’
Crystal Lake police Chief James Black said at a news conference that investigators were led to the body after they interviewed the boy’s parents overnight and presented them with cellphone evidence, according to The Associated Press.During the interviews, the boy’s father said he didn’t know what happened to his son, Fox32 reported. Meanwhile, investigators said that Cunningham had been “uncooperative with police” when they interviewed her.
Cunningham’s attorney, George Kililis, said she stopped answering police officers’ questions after her attorneys told her not to.
In a message intended for the slain boy, the chief said, “We know you are at peace playing in heaven’s playground and are happy you no longer have to suffer.”
‘Maybe Someone Hit Me With a Belt’
Months before his death, A.J. Freund told a doctor that his mother might have abused him, reported USA Today.When questioned initially by the doctor, the boy and Cunningham said bruising on the side of the boy’s leg was caused by the family dog. But when the doctor talked to A.J. alone, he told him: “Maybe someone hit me with a belt. Maybe Mommy didn’t mean to hurt me,” according to the newspaper, citing records from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
State officials then investigated the claim but found there wasn’t enough evidence to take the child into custody, according to the report.