Found Deceased IL - Andrew Freund, 5, Crystal Lake, 17 April 2019 *Arrests* - #3

[Trudie]

Yes it’s a disease. That doesn’t mean an addict has no choice. These particular addicts chose to give in to their disease.

Exactly, because they liked it, in the beginning.
Wonder if they used fentanyl?
Glad to at least see the female did gain weight, maybe the baby will have a chance at a normal life.

 

[LietKynes]

Photo 3
Why on earth is his hair thinning and missing? I really want to hurl. He looks miserable, uncomfortable and attempting to please. Then, I noticed the lack of hair on his left side.
A travesty.

I noticed that as well.
As if his hair had been yanked out in that spot..
And those burns ??
How painful it must have been !

And did he really accidentally pull a hot pan of boiling water on himself-- or did his egg donor throw it on him ??
This was so preventable.

Noticed some comments in other msm article referring to the people showing up to place flowers and toys at his house --- and why they didn't care about AJ before ?

I believe they did... it's just that our hands are tied and it's ILLEGAL to take a child (even an abused one) from its' home !!!
There were many calls to social services and nothing was done.
People tried. They cared.
They still care !

But you have to follow the law. You have to hope that DCFS will step in. There's little else to do.
You can call law enforcement.
In AJ's case even they (LE) found the home deplorable and unacceptable for children.
But DCFS thought it was fine.

Not all DCFS/CPS agencies are the same and there are probably some good employees.

But this particular DCFS who handled AJ's case are incompetent losers who do not care about the welfare of the children they are supposed to protect.
They have made this abundantly clear !

So, the fear of being sued is more important than the life of an abused child ?
Pathetic.

I wish the friend who took the photos had run with the pics to the police.
But maybe she was afraid of the bio-donors ?

People who can murder their own flesh and blood will think very little of killing you if you get in their way --- this is how JC and AF seem.
Imo.

 

[borndem]

She has quite the track record. Just one more reason she shouldn’t ever see her children again!

Agree. In WTH kind of condition will that child she is carrying be when s/he is born?? Addicted at birth? Certainly a low birth weight, IMO. Well developed? Normal intelligence?
Imagine finding out one day that you were born in prison. Of course it is by no fault of your own, but what a situation to bear for the rest of your life. A tuff way to start. And then where after the birth and proper new-baby care? Family? Foster care, then adoption, hopefully. This child, if his/her health can be brought to "normal," has a chance for a good and normal life. And the little one deserves an even chance. No more words...

 

[Trudie]

I don't know whether to hope for withdrawal for baby before or after birth

I was thinking the same, but she’s already in withdrawal, under medical supervision, imo. A high risk pregnancy is not what a county jail wants or is equipped to handle.
As soon as she was booked she might have been transferred to a hospital. All moo

 

[Curiousgirl2019]

Addiction is a disease. It’s not a choice. We can argue that the first “high” is a choice but with the Opioid epidemic it’s hard because a lot of people started with legal prescriptions. Giving in to their disease is not a choice. Some people are strong enough to beat it, some aren’t. There are level and degrees. Just like Cancer. It can be a stage 1 localised tumor or a devastating metastasis. Mental illness is really serious - I don’t think it’s fair to say addicts have choice when some simply do not once they are in.

However, to murder your own kid... that is the troubling part. That’s where the line is crossed. One thing is to steal, verbally abuse partners and family members, etc... in order to get high. Torturing a 5 year old for years is not really normal behaviour - not even for addicts.

I really go back and forth with this case. The parents should be in jail, of course. But by the time AJ was 5, I really think they were so deep that they were like zombies. Where the heck were the sober adults? Well that’s where DCFS is guilty. 17 times. Bruises. Burns. A confession of being beaten. Mom with a long history of drug abuse and child abuse with her oldest son. Passing out with needles on a car. Horrible living conditions. Seriously? What more? Sometimes I’m more enraged at DCFS than these zombie “parents” because they were sober and had one job to protect the kid.

I also think the fact that the dad was a lawyer and they are both white and lived in a “nice” neighbourhood played a role in the decision making. I’ve worked with foster kids and it really seems like in poor, black communities Child Services seem much more strict. That’s just appalling and makes me sick.

I think deep down I blame Child Protective Services even more than I blame the “parents”. They were the sober party. They have ONE job and that’s to protect these kids. They didn’t have 1 chance to save this boy. They didn’t have 2 or 3 chances. They had 17 opportunities to do the right thing and do whatever it took and they failed miserably. I just wonder how this would have been handled in a minority populated and tougher community.

 

[BaxterDE42]

I one if this played a big part in why JC's attorney won't represent her.

Interesting to speculate on his involvement, albeit short. Personally, I don't think he stayed around long enough to hear half of the possible charges. If he had any integrity, and I think he does because he is far away from JC, he was hit with the reality of her depravity very early in her charade and opted out of the evil cloud around him.

 

[kaen]

The neighbor who at Halloween was told by mom, he scalded his hand, did NOT report it!!!! NO reports around Halloween. If that had been YOU or I, I believe most of us would have I called someone!!!!

We know that children not in child care or school have fewer eyes on them when it comes to abuse. If they have an abusive parent/caregiver, they are often more isolated. People in their neighborhoods don't want to make a report for fear of getting involved or, in many cases, incurring retribution after the investigation. I would be great to have a public education campaign about the dangers of not reporting.

I think people often think they would call when, in fact, they don't want to or won't. I know I would call. I have. The first couple of times were excruciating and uncomfortable. I had to disclose who I was as a mandated reporter-- the parent that I called on came at me verbally at my place of employment three days later. That said, it is life or death for some kids if people don't make the report.

 

[Trudie]

Agree. In WTH kind of condition will that child she is carrying be when s/he is born?? Addicted at birth? Certainly a low birth weight, IMO. Well developed? Normal intelligence?
Imagine finding out one day that you were born in prison. Of course it is by no fault of your own, but what a situation to bear for the rest of your life. A tuff way to start. And then where after the birth and proper new-baby care? Family? Foster care, then adoption, hopefully. This child, if his/her health can be brought to "normal," has a chance for a good and normal life. And the little one deserves an even chance. No more words...

Wonder if she’s had prenatal care?
The baby will definitely have a rough start.
I hope she has no input as to where the child goes.
I hope they keep her calm, comfie & well nourished until she delivers, for the sake of the baby! Then get her thru the system asap so we don’t have to see her.
Jmo

 

[mickey2942]

Addiction is a disease. It’s not a choice. We can argue that the first “high” is a choice but with the Opioid epidemic it’s hard because a lot of people started with legal prescriptions. Giving in to their disease is not a choice. Some people are strong enough to beat it, some aren’t. There are level and degrees. Just like Cancer. It can be a stage 1 localised tumor or a devastating metastasis. Mental illness is really serious - I don’t think it’s fair to say addicts have choice when some simply do not once they are in.

However, to murder your own kid... that is the troubling part. That’s where the line is crossed. One thing is to steal, verbally abuse partners and family members, etc... in order to get high. Torturing a 5 year old for years is not really normal behaviour - not even for addicts.

I really go back and forth with this case. The parents should be in jail, of course. But by the time AJ was 5, I really think they were so deep that they were like zombies. Where the heck were the sober adults? Well that’s where DCFS is guilty. 17 times. Bruises. Burns. A confession of being beaten. Mom with a long history of drug abuse and child abuse with her oldest son. Passing out with needles on a car. Horrible living conditions. Seriously? What more? Sometimes I’m more enraged at DCFS than these zombie “parents” because they were sober and had one job to protect the kid.

I also think the fact that the dad was a lawyer and they are both white and lived in a “nice” neighbourhood played a role in the decision making. I’ve worked with foster kids and it really seems like in poor, black communities Child Services seem much more strict. That’s just appalling and makes me sick.

I think deep down I blame Child Protective Services even more than I blame the “parents”. They were the sober party. They have ONE ******* job and that’s to protect these kids. They didn’t have 1 chance to save this boy. They didn’t have 2 or 3 chances. They had 17 opportunities to do the right thing and do whatever it took and they failed miserably. I just wonder how this would have been handled in a minority populated and tougher community.

This is not a race issue. WS has plenty of black children who were killed by parents, even when DCFS was involved.

This is a social problem, entrenched in our society, of minding our own business. Not getting involved. I am sure plenty of neighbors knew that the kids were mistreated.

The real problem is the drug addiction that is taking over the lives of so many people...it is an epidemic. And children like AJ suffer.

 

[Knox]

WTH?!! Were those photos after the burn happened and neighbor thought he was a mummy at Halloween? I can't remember what year that was.

April, 2016: Andrew's juvenile court case is closed.

03/21/18: DCFS received a hotline report that alleged substantial risk of physical injury/injurious environment and environment neglect against the mother and father. The report alleged that the mother was brought to the emergency room after being found unresponsive in a car. Andrew was observed at the hospital to have odd bruising on his face.

The date on the post is 12/17/17. The above timeline indicates whatever this abuse was went unreported!!!

 

[Trudie]

This is not a race issue. WS has plenty of black children who were killed by parents, even when DCFS was involved.

This is a social problem, entrenched in our society, of minding our own business. Not getting involved. I am sure plenty of neighbors knew that the kids were mistreated.

The real problem is the drug addiction that is taking over the lives of so many people...it is an epidemic. And children like AJ suffer.

So frustrating for all of us that do report & find it necessary to continue reporting the same case repeatedly.
Like I said upthread, these cases will only continue.
The abuser is often homeless, drifting from place to place, keeping the kids indoors, making it difficult to know what is really going on.

 

[Breezie]

Photo 3
Why on earth is his hair thinning and missing? I really want to hurl. He looks miserable, uncomfortable and attempting to please. Then, I noticed the lack of hair on his left side.
A travesty.

‘An Absolute Horrific sound’: Neighbor Says She Reported Abuse at AJ Freund’s House

“They came over trick-or-treating,” Butler said. “He was dressed as a mummy. I said, ‘Cute mummy costume.’ They said they’d been at the hospital all day. [AJ’s mother] said he grabbed a pot of boiling water off the stove and poured it over himself. He even lost some of his hair from it; he had bald patches and gauze.”

 

[Trudie]

‘An Absolute Horrific sound’: Neighbor Says She Reported Abuse at AJ Freund’s House

“They came over trick-or-treating,” Butler said. “He was dressed as a mummy. I said, ‘Cute mummy costume.’ They said they’d been at the hospital all day. [AJ’s mother] said he grabbed a pot of boiling water off the stove and poured it over himself. He even lost some of his hair from it; he had bald patches and gauze.”

Truth be known he probably didn’t even want to T or T.
If he got a pain med Rx I think we know who benefited from it.
Poor boy. Of course he couldn’t lift a pot of boiling water over his head. Duh
Boiling or cold, water sure played a role in their household.

 

[Lynetta]

There was a beautiful little 2 year old girl named Ta'Naja Barnes that was in DCFS care on and off throughout 2018.(IL) A judge closed her case in October. A hotline report of abuse and medical neglect was made in November 2018 and was never "fully" investigated.

In February 2019 Ta'Naja was found dead wrapped in a urine soiled blanket in her home. She died of malnourishment, dehydration and cold exposure.

The story of Ta'Naja prompted the local news station to look into DCFS (as a whole) as much as they can. Here is an article of an interview done with an anonymous casework on March 25th about "minimum parenting"

DCFS Minimum Parenting Standards: "They didn't have any electricity"

[...]

The caseworkers spoke about conditions they have witnessed in other cases.

"You go in, there was rats and I don’t mean little tiny mice. Rats. There was food everywhere. Every time I would come in, there was food on the floor. The beds didn’t have sheets. But DCFS would say but there is food. And so, that’s minimum parenting,” the caseworker said.

[...]

"They didn’t have any electricity and it's the middle of summer. No fans. No air-conditioning but it’s okay. They are okay; they have a roof over their head. That’s minimum parenting standards,” the caseworker said.

[...]

AJ (and all of these children) were failed by his parents, by the system and by almost every adult in his life directly or indirectly.

 

[OhThatVictoria]

‘An Absolute Horrific sound’: Neighbor Says She Reported Abuse at AJ Freund’s House

“They came over trick-or-treating,” Butler said. “He was dressed as a mummy. I said, ‘Cute mummy costume.’ They said they’d been at the hospital all day. [AJ’s mother] said he grabbed a pot of boiling water off the stove and poured it over himself. He even lost some of his hair from it; he had bald patches and gauze.”

So they were at the hospital all day w/AJ, attending to his burn injury and then they go home and go trick or treating?!? Who does that? He had to have been in pain (or very drugged) and belonged in a CLEAN bed with nourishment in his tummy. He didn’t get that love from his Mother. I just don’t think she could bond with him. Ever. Well, obviously, right?

 

[Curiousgirl2019]

So they were at the hospital all day w/AJ, attending to his burn injury and then they go home and go trick or treating?!? Who does that? He had to have been in pain (or very drugged) and belonged in a CLEAN bed with nourishment in his tummy. He didn’t get that love from his Mother. I just don’t think she could bond with him. Ever. Well, obviously, right?

She was too busy bonding with Heroine.

 

[Herat]

Truth be known he probably didn’t even want to T or T.
If he got a pain med Rx I think we know who benefited from it.
Poor boy. Of course he couldn’t lift a pot of boiling water over his head. Duh
Boiling or cold, water sure played a role in their household.

The ER would not give a 5 yr old an Rx for narcotics, and she would certainly know that. If anything, opiate addicts certainly know how best to get fixes and with the tracking and reporting of opiate Rx, her showing up in a pharmacy would risk them calling LE. Besides, she was already injecting heroin. Heroin is very cheap and easy to get. Even if she could score a narcotic Rx, she could sell it and get much more heroin for the trade

Maybe she thought she could injure him and get an Rx for pain meds if he was in enough pain, but he would have been admitted if it was that bad.

I doubt she would risk going to the ER. I think it might be a big lie.

 

[katydid23]

it happens a lot. some of the most horrible cases i believe were moms that didn't bond w the child. Gabriel Fernandez. Kimberly lopez. jhessaye Shockley. jordan belleviau. all of them were in foster care early on.

And the so-called 'Moms' fight to get. them back, not because they want to care for them. They want them back for selfish reasons, imo.

 

[Herat]

And the so-called 'Moms' fight to get. them back, not because they want to care for them. They want them back for selfish reasons, imo.

They get paid more from ADC and other social agencies per # of children. It's about $$ for her habit

 

[Mbee]

So much "druggie loser" talk. Just to me takes away from the fact these two are straight up torture killers.

Drugs are obviously are the main theme in these people's lives. But these people are violent criminals. Drugs didn't do that. In fact this "druggie loser" attitude I believe plays a part when child workers are dealing with these people. You have to deal with addicts everyday, you start becoming numb to their behaviour. House dirty? Well it's normal for "these people".... No. It's not normal and forget the "these people" label and hold them accountable to the same standards as non addicts.

As I was one of those kids with heroin addict parents, the "druggie loser" attitude, judgement, and label caused me as the child a ton of pain while in my parents care from others. A ton. Just another kid from some dope heads. Healthcare workers wouldn't report my dirty clothes... Just another kid from dope fiends. ... You have to break that mentality.

Just my opinion that I didn't word well. Just trying to shed light on how these workers seem to get cold and blind.