General Discussion

Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts) Sat Apr 27, 2019, 10:31 PM Apr 2019

5-year-old told doctor of possible abuse before death: 'Maybe Mommy didn't mean to hurt me'

5-year-old told doctor of possible abuse before death: 'Maybe Mommy didn’t mean to hurt me'
Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY Published 2:08 p.m. ET April 27, 2019

Andrew "AJ" Freund, the 5-year-old Illinois boy whose parents are charged in his murder, told a doctor months before his death that his mother may have abused him, new records show.

AJ and his mother initially blamed bruising on the side of the boy's leg in December on the family dog.

However, when a doctor pulled the child aside, AJ said, "Maybe someone hit me with a belt. Maybe Mommy didn’t mean to hurt me," records released by Illinois' Department of Children and Family Services show.

When state officials investigated the claim, they determined there wasn't enough evidence to take AJ into protective custody, according to the Chicago Tribune.

More:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/04/27/aj-freund-missing-boy-crystal-lake-andrew-freund-joann-cunningham/3598511002/

10 replies

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Highlight:

5-year-old told doctor of possible abuse before death: 'Maybe Mommy didn't mean to hurt me' (Original Post) Judi Lynn Apr 2019 OP

AJ sweet little love ChubbyStar Apr 2019 #1

... MontanaMama Apr 2019 #2

This is so hard to hear...professionals call CPS BigmanPigman Apr 2019 #3

Mandated reporter. murielm99 Apr 2019 #8

The school district tries to keep all teacher reports BigmanPigman Apr 2019 #10

Saw that headline.....started to read article and just could't finish way to sad...... a kennedy Apr 2019 #4

Omg. area51 Apr 2019 #5

And where is the "pro-life" crowd when things like this happen? CaptainTruth Apr 2019 #6

EXACTLY!!! Duppers Apr 2019 #7

The mother is 7 months pregnant. Boomerproud Apr 2019 #9

ChubbyStar

(3,191 posts)

1. AJ sweet little love

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 10:36 PM

Apr 2019

What a failure of parenting and state officials.

MontanaMama

(23,314 posts)

2. ...

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 10:37 PM

Apr 2019

The system let this beautiful child down. I am sorry AJ. Rest In Peace sweet baby.

BigmanPigman

(51,593 posts)

3. This is so hard to hear...professionals call CPS

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Apr 27, 2019, 10:41 PM

Apr 2019

and when they investigate they do not find enough evidence. I hear these same stories over and over. When will the children be protected? What more can we do or do differently? The doctor reported it but I am sure he feels awful that this was the outcome. As am elementary school teacher I had to sign a paper when I signed my first teaching contract as a new hire. It said that if I suspected child abuse I had to report it (it is the law in my district)and I did on several occasions. CPS was called then it was out of my control.

murielm99

(30,741 posts)

8. Mandated reporter.

Reply to BigmanPigman (Reply #3)

Sun Apr 28, 2019, 01:31 AM

Apr 2019

I never had to turn anyone in. A friend of mine did. She always agonized over it, but her teacher friends told her she did the right thing.

The child's father was a doctor, and he lost his job. They lost custody of their children. But the little girl was so stiff and bruised that she could barely move.

BigmanPigman

(51,593 posts)

10. The school district tries to keep all teacher reports

Reply to murielm99 (Reply #8)

Sun Apr 28, 2019, 01:52 AM

Apr 2019

anonymous but it usually gets back to the parents. One parent had her child removed from my class due to it but made the excuse, "The teacher only allowed healthy snacks and we couldn't afford carrots". Geez, the student was dressed better than I was but this was her excuse. Of course her next teacher got a "heads up" about the issue and knew to be careful. We can only do so much.