Photo: Family Photo
The Illinois couple accused ofkilling their 5-year-old son before making public appeals for his safe returnallegedly beat the boy to death after he lied about soiling his underwear, according to newly-released court documents.
Investigators allege in a search warrant filed with the court on April 29 that Andrew Freund Sr., 60, admitted to police that he and JoAnn Cunningham, 36, forced their son Andrew “A.J.” Freund to take a cold, 20-minute shower on April 14 before sending him off to bed “cold, wet and naked.”
The punishment was for A.J.’s lying about soiling his underwear, the warrant states.
The couple, the warrant alleges, allegedly decided instead to subject their son to cold, prolonged showers.
A.J.’s parents have both been arrested on murder and other charges.
Both are being held on $5 million bond.
The new filing alleges both parents confessed to police after being confronted with a “forensic analysis of cell phone data,” which showed their phones pinged near where the boy’s body was discovered.
ABC; Crystal Lake Police Department
According to the new documents, A.J.’s brother allegedly told police that when he asked his mother what had happened to his sibling, she told him A.J. had fallen “down the stairs and had a lot of owies.”
Attorneys for the couple could not be reached for comment.
Family members issued a statement this week about the child’s untimely death through their attorney.
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It continues: “With his brave short life, AJ made the ultimate sacrifice to save his younger brother and unborn sibling.”
“His life shall not be in vain,” it concludes. “AJ will always be our little superhero.”
source: people.com
