Chicago, IL
AJ Freund murder: Judges denies JoAnn Cunningham’s challenge to conviction in beating death of son
The video featured is from a earlier report.
JoAnn Cunningham, 39, of Crystal Lake, claimed in her March petition for post-conviction aid that she suffered from postpartum despair and psychosis when she killed her son. Cunningham claimed she was “seeing demons and listening to voices” on the time of her son AJ’s loss of life.
Authorities say Cunningham killed AJ on April 15, 2019, after she turned offended about dirty underwear that he had tried to cover. She pressured the boy to face in a chilly bathe for not less than 20 minutes, hit him within the head with the bathe head, then put him to mattress chilly, moist and bare, in accordance with authorities.
AJ’s physique was discovered wrapped in plastic in a shallow grave close to the household’s residence in Crystal Lake.
How did Crystal Lake police crack the case of AJ Freund?
McHenry County Choose Robert Wilbrandt presided over her negotiated plea on Dec. 5, 2019, and sentencing on July 16, 2020. Andrew Freund, AJ’s father, additionally pleaded responsible in his loss of life and is serving a 30-year jail sentence.
Wilbrandt wrote in his ruling that Cunningham’s arguments in her petition “don’t present the ‘gist’ of a meritorious declare of considerable deprivation of a federal or state constitutional proper and that they’re patently with out benefit.”
Cunningham argued that no witnesses had been known as to testify on her behalf; she was not allowed to testify herself, nor did she present a confession; she was not learn her Miranda rights; and she or he was “illiterate” as to her constitutional rights, The Northwest Herald reported.
Wilbrandt wrote in his ruling, that witnesses had been known as on her behalf and protection attorneys introduced “wide-ranging proof” of her historical past of drug abuse and substance abuse remedy. She additionally offered a prolonged assertion addressing her “long-standing historical past of each prescribed and unlawful drug use,” the choose wrote.
Wilbrandt additionally dismissed as “with out benefit” Cunningham’s declare that her 35-year jail sentence is “merciless and weird punishment.”
Cunningham filed the handwritten petition from jail with out the assistance of an legal professional.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
AJ Freund: Crystal Lake residence of murdered boy demolished
Sentencing date set for JoAnn Cunningham, mom of AJ Freund
JoAnn Cunningham, mom of slain Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund, pleads responsible to homicide
McHenry County commissioner amongst 2 DCFS staff sued in AJ Freund case
Andrew ‘AJ’ Freund’s abuse repeatedly reported to DCFS, lawsuit alleges
Crystal Lake group holds memorial stroll to honor AJ Freund’s birthday
Efforts underway to tear down Crystal Lake residence of AJ Freund: Report
Andrew Freund, father of Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund, deemed mentally match for trial in son’s loss of life
Wrongful loss of life lawsuit could also be filed towards DCFS for dealing with of AJ Freund case
Prosecutors search to terminate parental rights of couple charged in AJ Freund’s loss of life
Murdered Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund’s dad and mom in court docket Tuesday
Murdered boy AJ Freund’s mother offers delivery in custody
Andrew ‘AJ’ Freund’s foster household releases assertion: ‘AJ was beloved by us’
AJ Freund loss of life: Dad and mom of 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy seem in court docket Monday
Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund funeral preparations introduced; DCFS releases timeline, 2 staff reassigned
Two little one deaths two years aside have DCFS again on hotseat
AJ Freund reason for loss of life launched, dad and mom bond set at $5M every for Joann Cunningham, Andrew Freund, Sr.
How did Crystal Lake police crack the case of AJ Freund?
‘He acquired a uncooked deal and God’s going to repair it’: Crystal Lake mourns AJ Freund after physique discovered
Lacking Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund’s physique discovered; dad and mom Joann Cunningham, Andrew Freund Sr. charged
Lacking Crystal Lake boy: 911 name reporting Andrew ‘AJ’ Freund, 5, lacking, police historical past with household launched
Lacking Crystal Lake boy Andrew ‘AJ’ Freund: Father continues search, mom pleads for boy’s, 5, return
Search continues for lacking 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy, father vows personal investigation
Crystal Lake group holds vigil for lacking boy to “gentle the best way for AJ”
Lacking Crystal Lake boy Andrew ‘AJ’ Freund: Boy, 5, didn’t go away residence on foot, police say
Crystal Lake boy lacking: FBI joins seek for 5-year-old Andrew ‘AJ’ Freund
Crystal Lake residence of murdered boy demolished
Copyright © 2022 by The Related Press. All Rights Reserved.
Chicago, IL
2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say
CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.
The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.
The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.
After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.
It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.
The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.
Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Chicago, IL
3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban
HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.
As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.
“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”
WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story
“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”
“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”
SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor
For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.
“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”
However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.
Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.
Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Chicago, IL
Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts
WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.
The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.
The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.
However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.
This story is breaking and can be up to date.
Copyright © 2022 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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