Timeline: The life and death of AJ Freund
Oct. 14, 2013: AJ Freund born with opioids in his system.
Nov. 14, 2013: DCFS places AJ in the care of his cousin.
June 2015: AJ returned to parents JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr.
June 2015 to April 2016: Caseworkers make 26 unannounced visits and report no signs of abuse or neglect. DCFS closes case.
March 21, 2018: Cunningham found unresponsive in a car and brought to emergency room. Hospital staff notes bruises on AJ's face.
May 18, 2018: After assessing their home and meeting with Cunningham, AJ and his younger brother, a DCFS investigator verifies Cunningham's participation in drug treatment and closes the case from March.
Dec. 18, 2018: DCFS receives a report alleging neglect of AJ and his brother, as well as cuts, welts and bruises on AJ. Police observe deplorable conditions inside house. Cunningham arrested on charges of driving on a suspended license.
Later, a doctor expresses concern about a bruise on AJ's hip. AJ tells the physician, "Maybe someone hit me with a belt. Maybe mommy didn't mean to hurt me," but later agrees with Cunningham that their dog caused the bruise.
Jan. 4, 2019: DCFS deems the case unfounded.
March 4, 2019: Video recovered later from Cunningham's phone shows a bandaged AJ being berated for bed-wetting, with bruises on his face, neck and chest.
April 15, 2019: AJ forced to stand in a cold shower as punishment, Freund later told police. Authorities believe AJ was hit on the head multiple times. At 3:17 a.m., a search on Freund's phone was for "child CPR."
April 17, 2019: At night, Freund buries AJ in a semirural area in Woodstock, he tells investigators later.
April 18, 2019: Parents report AJ missing.
April 24, 2019: Freund confesses his son is dead and leads police to AJ's body. Freund and Cunningham charged with first-degree murder and other offenses.
May 3, 2019: Hundreds attend AJ's visitation at Davenport Family Funeral Home in Crystal Lake.
Source: Police and DCFS reports