Police and first responders descended on wooded areas and ponds in a northwest Chicago suburb Tuesday as they continued their search for a 5-year-old boy who disappeared last week.
With their investigation in the Andrew "AJ" Freund's disppearance nearing a week, authorities resumed their search of Lippold Park. Stormy weather had forced them to end Monday's search early, police said.
Officers were seen on foot while Illinois State Police piloted a plane over the area to help those searching the ground.
Authorities from area fire departments were also seen scanning several ponds and smaller bodies of water in the area, including the water in Veteran Acres Park.
Meanwhile, McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally urged anyone who may know something to come forward. Kenneally said the worst thing someone can do in this case is conceal the truth.
“We will literally be working on this case every day until we find AJ or get justice for him," he said.
Police have asked the public for any video surveillance from the area the day AJ went missing.
"This would include video from home surveillance devices like the Ring Home Security System," police said in a release Tuesday.
Authorities said they're looking for video taken between 7 a.m. on April 15 and 9 a.m. on April 18. Anyone who may have footage related to the investigation is asked to email jmattson@crystallake.org.
In the days since AJ was reported missing, police have focused their search on the family’s Crystal Lake home, saying they do not believe the child was abducted.
Audio of the 911 call the father made when his son went missing was released by authorities Tuesday.
"We have a missing child," the father told dispatchers as the call began.
The audio reveals the father told police he "woke up [Wednesday] morning" and his child was gone.
Andrew Freund Sr. said he last saw his son around 9:30 p.m. "when he went to bed."
When they woke up the next day, he said the family canvassed the neighborhood, went to a local park, a gas station and called his school, but no one had seen the boy.
"I have no idea where he would be," he told the dispatcher.
Read a log of the call below
The missing boy's father continues to stay at the family’s home.
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Police say Andrew’s father met with investigators over the weekend and that the dialogue is ongoing.
"I have no control over what people think," Andrew Freund Sr. said. "I just want my son to come home, OK."
Police say Andrew's mother, Joann Cunningham, is not cooperating.
“When it became clear law enforcement was not conducting a missing child investigation, was not issuing an Amber Alert, had stopped searching for AJ, and considered her a suspect, we did advise her to stop all communications with law enforcement and she did so at our request," he said.
Both parents appeared Tuesday in McHenry County Circuit Court for a hearing as they seek to regain custody of their other son, who was taken into custody by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on Thursday after AJ was reported missing. The hearing was continued, with the next hearing set for Monday at 9 a.m. CT.
Crystal Lake police tell NBC 5 that there are no suspects in the case.
They also say that police never stopped searching for Andrew and continue to work as hard as they can.
The child is about 3 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs roughly 70 pounds and has short, blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a blue Mario sweatshirt and black sweatpants.
Anyone who may have information on his whereabouts is being asked to call (815) 356-3620. They can also text information along with the word CLPDTIP to 847411.
