AJ Freund's Parents Beat 5-Year-Old In Cold Shower Before His Death, According To Criminal Report

A criminal report filed on Thursday morning has detailed the final moments of 5-year-old Andrew "AJ" Freund’s life.

The report, filed by Illinois’ Crystal Lake Police Department, explains the abuse AJ allegedly suffered at the hands of his parents, JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr. According to the report, AJ was forced “to remain in a cold shower for an extended period of time and/or struck him on or about his body” on April 15.

The report also notes that the couple knew “said acts would cause the death of AJ.”

AJ Freund’s body was found on Wednesday in a shallow grave and wrapped in plastic outside of the family home in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The body was found after the parents provided police information that led to the area where AJ was buried.

His parents originally reported him missing on April 18. They first said the last either of them saw of AJ was the night before when he went to bed. However, evidence suggested that AJ had not been abducted or ran away. Police began taking a harder look at the parents after this, especially as the couple’s history of abuse and drug use came out.

Not long after his body was found, it was announced that Cunningham and Freund were being charged with the boy’s murder. Both individuals are facing charges including first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated domestic battery, and failure to report a missing child or child death.

Cunningham and Freund had their hearings on Thursday morning, reporting separately to McHenry County Court. Bail was set at $5 million each and both are opting for public defenders. The judge also ordered that each will have to post 10 percent of their bond.