The parents of a five-year-boy have both been charged with his murder after his body was found wrapped in plastic in a shallow grave.
JoAnn Cunningham, 36, and Andrew Freund Sr, 60, told police last Thursday that AJ Freund mysteriously vanished from their home in Crystal Lake, Illinois, after he went to bed the night before.
They each issued desperate pleas for their son's return as local law enforcement and the FBI carried out a sweeping six-day search.
The parents have now been hit with multiple counts including first-degree murder and battery after they helped lead police to the boy's remains in a field at the rural Hennen Conservation Area in Woodstock, Crystal Lake Police Chief James Black announced at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Records show that child protective services had visited AJ's home on 17 occasions since his birth in 2013.
JoAnn Cunningham, 36, and Andrew Freund Sr, 60, have been charged with murder in the death and disappearance of their five-year-old son AJ. The parents (above in their mugshots) told police last Thursday that AJ had mysteriously vanished from their home in Crystal Lake, Illinois, after he went to bed the night before
AJ's body was found wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave in a field near his home on Wednesday morning, six days after he was reported missing by his parents
Information provided by both parents as well as forensic cellphone data were used to locate AJ's body in Woodstock's Hennen Conservation Area, where investigators are seen above
Cunningham is facing five counts of first-degree murder, four counts of aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated domestic battery and one count of failure to report a missing or child death.
Freund Sr is facing five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery, one count of aggravated domestic battery, two counts of concealment of a homicidal death and one count of failure to report a missing child or child death.
AJ's official cause of death will be determined pending an autopsy by the McHenry County coroner.
Chief Black said information provided by both parents overnight as well as forensic cellphone data were used to locate the body.
'To AJ's family, it is my hope that you may have some solace knowing that AJ is no longer suffering, and his killers have been brought to justice,' Black said.
'To AJ, we know you're at peace playing in heaven’s playground, and are happy you no longer have to suffer.'
Cunningham is comforted by her attorney on Friday as she pleaded for her son's return
Cunningham's lawyer George Kililis spoke to reporters on her behalf on Friday, saying the mother is 'worried sick' about her son and 'had nothing to do with' the boy's disappearance
Earlier on Wednesday investigators were seen carrying items including a dirt-caked shovel, two brown bags, a plastic storage bin and a small mattress out of the house.
The family dog, a brown Boxer named Lucy, was taken into custody by Animal Control officials.
Authorities had focused the investigation on the home early on after no evidence was found indicating that AJ was abducted or that he wandered off on his own.
AJ's three-year-old brother was removed from the home on Friday and is now living with a different family, but authorities declined to say why.
Cunningham, who is seven months pregnant, had been fighting to regain custody.
The Illinois Department of Child Services released the following statement after AJ's death was announced: 'After a nearly week-long search for missing Andrew "A.J." Freund, law enforcement officials today confirmed his death. This news is heartbreaking.
'Protecting vulnerable children who come to our attention is at the core of our mission at DCFS. All of us feel this loss. Our priority is the care and safety of Andrew’s younger sibling. We will continue to cooperate with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation.
'The Department is committed to conducting a comprehensive review of the entirety of our work with Andrew’s family to understand our shortcomings and to be fully transparent with the public on any steps we are taking to address the issues.'
Investigators were seen collecting evidence from AJ's home in Crystal Lake on Wednesday
The items removed from the house included a dirt-caked shovel, two brown bags, a plastic storage bin and a small mattress
This map shows AJ's Crystal Lake home in relation to where his body was found in Woodstock
Police visited AJ's home 17 times before he went missing and found it was covered in dog feces
Cunningham was arrested on the night AJ was reported missing for failure to appear in court on a charge of driving with a suspended license stemming from an incident in December.
According to police reports obtained by DailyMail.com, officers were dispatched to the home where Cunningham lived with AJ and his three-year-old brother on December 18 after the mother claimed that her prescription medication had been stolen.
Officer Nickolaus Trimpe wrote in a report that the living conditions at house were not 'up to an acceptable standard' and said there was 'dog feces and urine scattered about'.
Trimpe also observed several broken or open windows letting in frigid winter air. He said the fireplace, the home's sole source of heat, appeared to be in disrepair.
Another responding officer, Kimberly Shipbaugh, wrote in her report: 'While in the residence I observed it to be cluttered, dirty and in disrepair.
'The floor in the kitchen
