An autopsy has revealed that a missing Illinois 5-year-old whose body was later found in a shallow grave died of multiple blows to the head.
Prosecutors cited by the news outlet said AJ’s parents forced their son “to remain in a cold shower for an extended period of time and/or struck A.F. on or about his body, knowing such acts would cause the death of A.F.”
A bond of $5 million each has been set for the parents, according to the report.
Cunningham, who is seven months pregnant, shed tears as the judge listed the charges, WGN-TV reported.
Freund Sr. showed no emotion in court.
‘No Longer Have to Suffer’
The boy’s body was found wrapped in plastic on April 24 in a rural area of Woodstock, Crystal Lake police Chief James Black said at a news conference, according to The Associated Press.Woodstock is about 50 miles northwest of Chicago and a few miles from the family’s home in Crystal Lake.
Black said investigators were led to the body after they interviewed the boy’s parents overnight and presented them with cellphone evidence.
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.”
Luis Maldonado, a local man, described the area where the boy was discovered as being fairly isolated.
AJ had been reported missing by his parents about a week ago.
Police officials were seen taking items from the family home on April 23, including a shovel.
Other evidence investigators removed included a toddler mattress and a large plastic tub, according to WGN-TV.
Freund Sr., the boy’s father, and Cunningham, the mother, were interviewed by Crystal Lake Police after the child disappeared, according to reports.
His father said he didn’t know what happened to his son, Fox32 reported.
Investigators said earlier this week 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.
“While law enforcement was conducting a missing child investigation, Ms. Cunningham was eager to participate,” Kililis told the Fox affiliate. “When it became clear law enforcement was not conducting a missing child investigation, was not issuing an Amber Alert, had stopped searching for AJ, and considered her a suspect, we did advise her to stop all communications with law enforcement and she did so at our request.”
Welfare Checks
On April 23, the police released more than 60 pages of reports written by officers who responded to various calls about the house where AJ lived with his parents, AP reported.
One report described seeing the home littered with dog feces and urine, and a children’s bedroom where “the smell of feces was overwhelming.” Another report said the officer found the house to be “cluttered, dirty, and in disrepair,” and without electrical power.
The heavily-redacted reports also indicate state child welfare workers were called after officers spotted a large bruise on one of the young boys living there, but that the children appeared to be “healthy and happy” and were not removed from the house.
