Neighbors Relieved To See Freund Home Torn Down

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — The home where authorities say 5-year-old AJ Freund was brutally beaten to death has been torn down. And those living in the once-quiet, well-kept neighborhood near 94 S. Dole Ave. are relieved to see it go.

"It will be good to not have a daily reminder. Not to have to think about that poor kid every day," said one neighbor who asked not to be identified. The neighbor, who may be called on to testify if the murder charges against Andrew Freund, 60, continue to a bench trial, has lived in the neighborhood for two decades and didn't sleep for three weeks after news broke that AJ's parents, Freund and JoAnn Cunningham, 37, had been charged in connection with AJ's death.

He joined Janelle Johnson, who lives across the street from the Freund home, and other neighbors to watch as demolition crews leveled the home. Johnson said she is relieved to see the residence gone.

"I'm glad the house is down. I bought my house for the front porch," said Johnson, gesturing to her porch, which faces the Freund home.

She's lived on Dole Avenue for three years and says she offered to help Cunningham on several occasions. The home, she said, had obvious drug traffic coming in and out. And she called the city's hotline on several occasions after noticing broken windows and other issues.

She also heard fighting and saw AJ, who she said was an active 5-year-old boy, and his younger brother out in frigid conditions during the winter with just diapers on, Johnson said.

In a lawsuit filed last summer against Freund and Cunningham, the city cited 41 code violations on the property, declaring the house dangerous.

In November, a McHenry County judge found the couple in default, which allowed for the home to be demolished. Green Demolition Contractors Inc. will demolish the home at no cost to the city, according to the Northwest Herald. The local company stepped forward to donate its services in recent months, and the Crystal Lake City Council accepted the offer in January.

• AJ Freund's Home Can Be Demolished

• Company Donates Services To Demolish Freund House

Meanwhile, Freund and Cunningham remain behind bars.

Freund is next expected in court on April 24 for a status hearing. Last week, Freund appeared in court in McHenry County, where he waived his right to a jury trial, meaning a judge will decide whether he is guilty or not in connection with his son's death.

Cunningham pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is set to be sentenced on April 30.