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

[katydid23]

You said it. I would think that CPS is not allowed to assume that a bruise always screams abuse, but circumstances ought to at least raise a little red flag at a scene like this one. The mom is passed out??? Maybe the flag faded too soon. SMH

In every job or position I have ever had, my manager has commended me when would get more experienced in doing whatever -- better knowledge going in/a better "product" going out. Surely that is the same with CPS work, be it interviewing a teacher in the child's school, the child's doctor/dentist; a neighbor or baby-sitter; a relative, etc. Learning to recognize malnutrition, fear in a child's face, burn wounds or bruises in the wrong places, the child's interaction with parents or siblings, etc., etc., etc. Experience -- that spidey sense, etc.
And I'm sure there are many darn good CPS investigators and managers out there -- those are the ones that can mean the difference in life or death in cases like this. SMH.

That is all true and I agree with you.

But the very sad truth is, according to my ex social worker friend, there is NO PLACE to send the children that need to be rescued. My friend would very often end her case reports with the conclusion that the child should be immediately removed from the home. But the inescapable problem is that it is not her final decision.

Her reports are reviewed , and reviewed again, up the chain of command. And the people at the top have a very difficult situation. There are not enough 'beds' for the number of children that need to be taken from their homes. There are not enough foster homes, not enough group homes, and so there is no place to transfer these children to.

So when a social worker has the spider sense that tells her the bruises are not from the family dog, and the child does look malnourished----once the people at the top get the report, they send it back with their 'suggestions' of how to alleviate the issues.

Check with the family and look at their kitchen, give them more for stamps, tell them where the food bank is, have them remove the dog if necessary, etc etc.

That is why so many dedicated social workers burn out so early. It is depressing and devastating for them too, imo.

 

[Simply Southern]

If he was severely beaten on 3/4 these might be older pics she posted to make it look like all is okay, having a great time here. If taken after 3-4 the beating was not as horrific as we think, imo.
The dark circles under his eyes, just haunting. Bet he never slept long, he lived every moment in fear, imo. It appears his head has an odd shape.

Well, something happened on 3/4 that is related to his death. Maybe LE found medical records of an injury or someone confessed or came forward.

I just hope he was not injured on 3/4 and suffered til they beat him to death on 4/15. These are evil people!!!

 

[mickey2942]

Actually they still do, LE makes the decision if the woman is a flight risk.
I think they should not get any special treatment unless it pertains to the welfare of the baby. Mainly nutritional needs, imo.

When I worked in the prison, women went to the hospital to give birth, and the ones in minimum security were given far more allowances, even allowed family members at the birth. And it seemed to me, a few extra days at hospital, to "recover". They did not have a full time guard. And most of these women usually went to substance abuse treatment centers or other arrangements to be with their baby if they were planning on keeping the baby.

Maximum security, always shackled. Full time guard. No family. Minimum time at hospital. Prison guards don't go out of their way to be nice to child killers. I don't think that this particular prisoner will have many advocates if she complains.

 

[MsFacetious]

There was a video of JC and the littlest one at the hotel pool. Does anybody know what date that was? Tia

Joann took P to the pool on April 13. That is also the day the bikini picture was posted. No sign of AJ there.

I would guess he qualifies strictly by being under 13. MOO

Yes. It's under 13 OR disabled. So if you beat a 5 year old, or a 16 year old that's disabled it's the same charge.

I keep reading a lot about JC dragging AF Sr down but unless I’m missing something on the timeline her child abuse issues and involvement with DCFS began at the time AF Sr came into her life(this is by no means an excuse)? 2012?

I was just discussing this today actually. I initially thought Joann dragged Andrew down.
However, I think they both already had issues and addictions when they met. I think they were just the perfect storm of BAD when they got together.

According to what I have read, parents do not have to give DCFS access to their child or their home. A report was made about Andrew and contact was attempted weekly for a month. Notice dad was not present. Plenty of time to get the home and their act together for a visit. BBM.

From the DCFS memo:

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. DCFS investigator contacted the parents in unsuccessful attempt to see the children on 03/21/18, 3/29/18 and 4/9/18.

04/25/18: DCFS investigator met with JoAnn, Andrew and his younger brother. JoAnn was interviewed while the boys played outside in the driveway of the home. DCFS investigator observed the boys to be clean and did not find signs of maltreatment

Yes, over a month after the report is made.... there's no signs of maltreatment. The bruises have gone away and they met outside, so the house wasn't a concern.

It is true that you don't HAVE to give DCFS access. In some situations that might be wise. In the case of false allegations I can understand not wanting to subject your kids to exams or interviews. I can also understand some people not trusting DCFS.

However, in a situation like this with a history of proven abuse/neglect/drug use the rules should absolutely be different. Just like someone on probation or parole can't refuse a search. These parents should have to produce the child immediately, or a warrant should be issued to take custody.

 

[Trudie]

Well, something happened on 3/4 that is related to his death. Maybe LE found medical records of an injury or someone confessed or came forward.

I just hope he was not injured on 3/4 and suffered til they beat him to death on 4/15. These are evil people!!!

I know. I’d like to hear from someone that did see AJ after 3-4 just to know he wasn’t living in excessive pain for 6 weeks. Evil beyond words.
If you read my previous link, the parents can decide where the baby will go (surely the person appointed will have to make it legal), I hope they never send photos or updates to either murderer.

 

[Trudie]

Joann took P to the pool on April 13. That is also the day the bikini picture was posted. No sign of AJ there.

Do you think he was severely injured 3-4, basically confined to bed afterwards?

 

[Bugurl747]

Most jails do not have an MD or medical facilities on site. Prisons do.

Our local jail has a Registered Nurse.
If there is a medical emergency , they handle it until EMS arrives to transport said person to the hospital.
MOO

 

[Thora_Jay]

When I worked in the prison, women went to the hospital to give birth, and the ones in minimum security were given far more allowances, even allowed family members at the birth. And it seemed to me, a few extra days at hospital, to "recover". They did not have a full time guard. And most of these women usually went to substance abuse treatment centers or other arrangements to be with their baby if they were planning on keeping the baby.

Maximum security, always shackled. Full time guard. No family. Minimum time at hospital. Prison guards don't go out of their way to be nice to child killers. I don't think that this particular prisoner will have many advocates if she complains.

Where I worked, even minimum inmates were supervised at all times in the hospital.

In the state I worked in, the title “prison guard” was replaced with the title decades ago with “Correctional Officer”.

 

[MsFacetious]

Well, something happened on 3/4 that is related to his death. Maybe LE found medical records of an injury or someone confessed or came forward.

I just hope he was not injured on 3/4 and suffered til they beat him to death on 4/15. These are evil people!!!

It is certainly possible that pain complaints (maybe a broken bone not treated) from an earlier beating triggered the final beating. However, I don't think it has to be directly related to his death.

They are obviously going to pile on every single charge they can. I think they will simply charge them with anything they can prove. I think they charged NOW what they have evidence for NOW. I also think there will be more charges to come.

I have not seen the police report for this date. But I heard through the grapevine/neighbors that JC beat AJ very badly in March this year. I mean almost to death is what I heard.

There was never a police report or ER visit for 3/4/19. Somehow neighbors know that JC beat AJ badly on that date. I guess I just don’t want to believe that he suffered even more....

I hope you are correct and no neighbors knew of this beating on that date. If they did and didn't report it, I think they should be charged.

However, I think it's far more likely that pictures and/or text messages were found on phones after AJ went missing. Pictures would be dated as would text messages. I think that's the most likely reason for them having an actual DATE this occurred. I also think it's very possible they found internet searches from that date.

They may have admitted to harming him on that date based on police interview notes from neighbors. They may have admitted early on before they admitted they killed him as a way of saying, "Yes, this happened, we admit it. But, we didn't hurt him this time." These people are souless, immoral beings. I can absolutely see them admitting one thing in service to claiming innocence for another. They are addicts. This is how addicts justify their actions.

I think they may have admitted to this if LE found proof of the prior beating. I really think there were pictures of AJ's abuse on one of their phones. Just like other horrific cases we've seen before. I think they only admit to things when they are confronted with evidence of their crimes. Just like they only admitted to AJ's death when confronted with evidence of that.

bbm
Or took them herself, or sold them, or never filled the Rx in the first place.
And I would agree he may well have been LD. Poor diet, living in fear many days, probably slow and/or afraid to speak, no one to read to him or help him with simple puzzles or educational toys (I assume).
How many times did that little boy hear, "I love you"?

I tell my little boy at least a dozen times a day. I can't get over how stinking adorable and smart he is. So I tell him. "Awwww thanks" he responds. The kid will have an ego...

I'm not sure that AJ ever did hear that or feel that from his donors. I know he did from others though. So hopefully that is what he remembered in the final days when he didn't get to see those who loved him. I also really hope Lucy wasn't crated when he was dying. I so hope she laid there with him. I also hope he was unaware. If there is any justice in the world... please let him have been unaware, warm and comforted by the dog.

 

[Simply Southern]

Do you think he was severely injured 3-4, basically confined to bed afterwards?

Yes, she could have beaten him and he didn't recover or had a major injury. Like a broken shoulder or similar. Maybe he wet the bed/or worse on 4.15 and she snapped. They could have jerked him up threw him in cold shower and beat him when he couldn't clean himself up. He could have been unconscious since 3/4 and she snapped and beat him in shower to contain the blood. Jmo

 

[Simply Southern]

Our local jail has a Registered Nurse.
If there is a medical emergency , they handle it until EMS arrives to transport said person to the hospital.
MOO

Same here, a nurse.

 

[MsFacetious]

Do you think he was severely injured 3-4, basically confined to bed afterwards?

No. I really don't.

I think if that was the case they would have killed him out of annoyance (or he would have died of natural causes) long before 4/15.

I also think there would have been far more evidence of weeks in his bed. Obviously soiled bed, clothing, bedding, the floor, whatever.

I also think if he was bed ridden for weeks he'd be skeletal or would have starved to death because these creatures weren't going to baby him and feed him. He was on his own. I don't think the cause of death would be head injury if he'd been bed ridden since 3/4.

LE will also know whether those hair cut pictures were taken on 3/11 or another day. There are likely also other pictures taken at the same time that didn't make facebook, which may show the apparent huge bruise better. So, that will help to clarify all of that.

IF those pictures were taken on 3/11 I think that it is likely a huge bruise but his beating 3/4 wasn't nearly fatal. His smile isn't crooked, he doesn't look like he's dealing with a TBI or anything like that. I think that it may have been a severe beating that knocked him unconscious but didn't leave him brain damaged or anything.

I'm sure there are many pictures between 3/4 and 4/15 that will help clarify the timeline for LE. I'm sure they are already using them and that is why we have the charges we do. I think we will learn more as more charges are filed and as evidence comes out. I just hope it doesn't get worse than it already is.

 

[kaen]

How do you know JC was at the pool I only saw photos of his younger brother and monsters bikini selfie.

JC is the mom. AJ was not there as far as I could tell-- no photos of him.

 

[Simply Southern]

There was never a police report or ER visit for 3/4/19. Somehow neighbors know that JC beat AJ badly on that date. I guess I just don’t want to believe that he suffered even more....

How could they not call the hotline at least? I had heard the same, neighbor knew and talked among themselves. We had a child beaten in our neighborhood. We could here him screaming, several of us call 911. When the patrol officer took the report and did nothing. We banded together and called for a supervisor, he came and CPS. The guy had admitted it and they charged him.

 

[Trish51]

@MsFacetius - Totally agree! I think they found something on the phones. It would be hard for someone to come up with an exact date 6 weeks later, unless they were documenting something or had something going on that day so it was easy to remember, I.e. it was my birthday, anniversary, started a new job, lost a job, etc. I didn't think about internet searches though. Very good point.

I too think more charges will come, some will be dropped, and others change. The X felony charges will probably remain the same.

 

[Herat]

Same here, a nurse.

She will not have gone to trial when she delivers, so she will still be confined to jail, not yet serving a prison sentence

 

[Simply Southern]

So AJ was previously diagnosed as disabled, meaning she was drawing a SSI check for him?
Did the battery occur 03/04 or is that the date she was Charged?
Tysm

You can only draw SSD for a child, if parent is disable or deceased. SSI is adults only. Once disable child turns 18 you can file for SSI. Kids under 18 qualify for TANF or child support.

 

[kaen]

I need to find the original press release from DCPS. It is clear once, again msm has conflicting information.

This article has a copy of the full report. New DCFS timeline of AJ Freund case: 'Maybe someone hit me with a belt'

The dates that I posted earlier the same as this document.

It is a SCRIBD doc in the middle of the page.

 

[Midgie2]

Does anybody think they will try to fight the charges?

 

[MsFacetious]

You can only draw SSD for a child, if parent is disable or deceased. SSI is adults only. Once disable child turns 18 you can file for SSI. Kids under 18 qualify for TANF or child support.

Kids with an actual disability can get social security before 18 even with average parents. However it's not easy to get approved, even if the kid has an automatically qualifying diagnosis.