The father of AJ Freund has received his sentence for his role in AJ’s horrific murder. As Mamas Uncut previously reported, AJ was found wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave on April 24, 2019. He was just 5 years old.
Prior to being found by police, AJ was reported missing by his father, Andrew Freund. Andrew and his AJ’s mother, JoAnn, told police that they had last seen AJ when they put him to bed the night before on April 17.
5-Year-old AJ Freund’s Father Sentenced to 30 Years
Both Andrew and JoAnn were initially described as uncooperative by investigators. However, after investigators found a cell phone video of AJ, which revealed he has been badly beaten, Andrew explained the events that took place leading to his son’s death and then took police to the shallow grave where AJ’s body was found.
At that time, both Andrew and JoAnn were arrested and held on a $5 million bond. The father pleaded not guilty and after months of not cooperating with police, JoAnn eventually changed her not guilty plea to a “blind plea,” which meant both parties agreed to the sentencing terms in January of this year.
In July, JoAnn was sentenced to 35 years for her involvement in AJ’s murder. Now, as the Daily Mail reports, Andrew is being sentenced for his involvement as well.
The father has been sentenced to 30 years after pleading guilty to three felony charges of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery to a child, and concealment of a homicide. According to CBS 2, the 61-year-old was sentenced to “14 years for involuntary manslaughter, 11 years for aggravated battery, and 5 years for concealment of a homicide.”
All of those sentences are to be served consecutively and he will be credited for the time he has already served while waiting for his sentencing. As previously stated, Andrew has been in police custody since April 2019. He will also have to register as a violent offender.
According to prosecutors, Andrew told police that JoAnn had become enraged on April 14, 2019, after AJ, who he also described as “stubborn” and “headstrong,” soiled his pants. After beating him, AJ was told to get in the cold shower and to not come out. Andrew admitted that the young boy agreed to it knowing that if he did come out of the shower he would be subjected to more abuse.
That night, around 3 a.m., Andrew said JoAnn woke him up to say AJ was no longer breathing. That’s when he told her that he would “take care of it.” Andrew was also revealed to have told investigators that he believed JoAnn’s actions were a cry for help.
“My guess is that I think she was looking for support. I don’t think she enjoyed this. I think she was looking for some sort of support from me in disciplining A.J. Please can you help. This is how bad it’s getting.”
Autopsy results show AJ Freund died of multiple blunt force injuries to the head. Sadly, prior to the 5-year-old’s passing, records show that the Department of Child and Family Services had visited the Freund’s home at least 17 times. The DCFS and its employees who worked on AJ’s cases are now also under investigation after they determined the many claims to be unfounded, despite concerns raised by police and others.