A state child welfare worker who investigated an abuse claim months before a 5-year-old suburban Chicago boy was found beaten to death has defended his record.

Two child welfare employees who oversaw AJ Freund’s case for months before his murder are no longer employed by the agency. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services confirmed Friday that Carlos Acosta and his supervisor Andrew Polovin left the agency after a lengthy internal investigation. “Following the heartbreaking death of AJ Freund, DCFS began a comprehensive review...

The mother of 5-year-old AJ Freund has pleaded guilty in his murder, and NBC 5’s Chris Hush has the story.

WARNING: This story contains disturbing details that may be difficult for some viewers to read. The Illinois mother charged in the beating death of her 5-year-old son Andrew “AJ” Freund, a Crystal Lake boy who was reported missing before his body was found in a shallow grave in a far northwest suburb, has pleaded guilty to murder.  Joann Cunningham, 36, had...

They stand accused of killing their 5-year-old son, and they pleaded not guilty in his murder. NBC 5’s Michelle Relerford has the story.