Special public defender appointed to represent AJ Freund's father on murder charges

A judge appointed a special public defender Friday to represent Andrew Freund Sr., who is accused of playing a role in his 5-year-old son AJ Freund's slaying and burial.

Andrew Freund Sr. was scheduled to make a court appearance Friday to determine whether he would hire a private attorney or ask a judge to appoint one for him.

After filling out an affidavit detailing any debts, bank accounts or assets, McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt appointed Special Public Defender Henry Sugden to represent Freund on a series of criminal charges related to AJ’s death.

Freund reported owing $50,000 in credit card debt, and noted that his home is in foreclosure. He also indicated that he worked for a contracting company but wasn’t certain whether he still had a job.

“I don’t know if I’m still employed at this point,” Freund wrote.

Attorneys with the McHenry County Public Defender’s Office could not be assigned to Freund’s case because Assistant Public Defender Richard Behof previously was appointed to represent AJ’s mother, JoAnn Cunningham.

Representation of both parents by the Public Defender’s Office would create a conflict of interest.

Sugden has until Tuesday to file any motions he would like to be addressed at Freund’s next court date, set for May 10.

Freund, 60, and Cunningham, 36, lived together in the zero to 100 block of Dole Avenue, Crystal Lake, with AJ and his younger brother, who has since been taken into protective custody by the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services.

Police believe AJ's parents forced the boy to take a cold shower and beat him to death April 15, according to police reports and affidavits. Freund told police he then stored the child's body in a tote in the basement and buried him in a shallow grave near Woodstock, where investigators recovered AJ's body
April 24.