City Fines Cunningham, Freund For Upkeep at Home

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL -- The city of Crystal Lake plans to fine the parents of a 5-year-old boy slain last month at a home along Dole Avenue for upkeep public works officials are taking on while the duo is behind bars. The Crystal Lake Public Works Department made a stop out to the home at 94 Dole Avenue on May 24 to mow the lawn and take care of the bushes on the property, the Northwest Herald reports. The owners of the home, which is also in foreclosure, are being held at the McHenry County Jail on a $5 million bail for allegations they killed Andrew "AJ" Freund on April 15.

Crystal Lake Director of Community Development Michelle Rentzsch told the Northwest Herald the couple will be fined for every time a public works employee needs to take care of upkeep at the home. The amount of those fines will depend on what type of work needs to be done, according to the Northwest Herald.

Andrew Freund appeared last month in an orange jumpsuit and in shackles for a foreclosure hearing regarding the Dole Avenue home where authorities believe Freund and Cunningham placed their son in a cold shower for an extended period of time on April 15 and then beat him. The boy died of severe head trauma, authorities said.

During an April 24 hearing, Andrew Freund asked for the foreclosure matter to be continued to a later date and that all paperwork in the matter be sent to the McHenry County Correctional Facility. According to court documents, the couple owed $98,980 on the home as of July 2018.

Freund and Cunningham or next expected in court for the foreclosure on June 20 and they are due in court on the criminal charges on June 18.

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• AJ Freund Died Three Days Before He Was Reported Missing
• Hearing On Parental Rights For AJ's Brother Postponed
• Read Indictment for Joann Cunningham, Andrew Freund
• Cunningham Berated, Beat AJ After He Wet the Bed: Warrant
• Thousands Say Goodbye to AJ at Public Visitation
• Adoption, Foster Events Care Scheduled After AJ Freund Tragedy