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CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — The parents of missing 5-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund have been charged with murder, police said Wednesday. The boy’s parents reported him missing from their Crystal Lake home last Thursday, but sources told multiple news outlets that authorities have recovered his body from a nearby field.
WGN reported late Wednesday morning that the missing child’s body was located after authorities canvassed a field in Woodstock, Illinois. A source close to the case confirmed the discovery to the Chicago Tribune. According to Fox-32, the child’s body was found on private property.
Andrew’s mother, JoAnn Cunningham, reportedly arrived at the Crystal Lake police station around 6 a.m. Wednesday with her attorney, George Kililis. Kililis left by himself about two hours later, according to the Tribune.
On Wednesday morning, authorities removed several items from the missing boy’s family home earlier in the day, including a dirt-covered shovel, a child’s mattress and the family dog, according to news reports.
Crystal Lake Police Chief James Black and FBI Special Agent Colin McGuire will be speaking at a news conference scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Woodstock City Hall.
The news conference comes one week after the boy’s disappearance. Authorities said Andrew was last seen at around 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 17. His parents told police they put him to bed Wednesday and could not find him in the home when they woke up the following morning, according to a news release from the Crystal Lake Police Department. Andrew’s parents reported him missing on Thursday morning.
Authorities searched near Woodstock Wednesday morning, according to several news reports. WGN reported the FBI and McHenry County Sheriff’s Department were back on scene at the family’s home near Gayle Drive and Dean Street.
Besides the shovel caked in dirt, investigators carried several other items out of the family’s homeWednesday morning. Also among the items taken as evidence were “two brown (lawn) bags and a small mattress,” reports said, and authorities could be seen carrying out a plastic storage tub. The family dog, a boxer named Lucy, was also removed by Animal Control officials.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney was seen leaving the Crystal Lake police station Wednesday morning, according to WJOL.
Police were also canvassing a field in nearby Woodstock on Thursday morning in their search for AJ.
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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.