Suffer the Little Children - Episode 123: AJ Freund (Mega Episode)

Episode 123: AJ Freund (Mega Episode)

08/17/22 • 161 min

1 Listener

On April 18, 2019, JoAnn Cunningham and Drew Freund called 911 to report their 5-year-old son, AJ, missing from the family’s home in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Days later, police discovered AJ’s battered body in a shallow grave, and both JoAnn and Drew were charged with the murder of their little boy.
I’ve told AJ’s story in parts over the course of two regular episodes, a few update episodes, and multiple posts on Suffer the Little Children Blog. AJ was the first child I ever featured on both the blog and the podcast, and he holds a special place in my heart. Because I covered his story over two years ago and in such a fragmented way, in this episode, I’m pulling it all together into one “mega episode” comprising all of my previous coverage about AJ as well as any updates I’ve found that I haven’t yet covered. Some of it is newly recorded, but most of it is compiled from past episodes, making it easier to get the full picture of AJ’s story all in one place.
This is the tragic story of AJ Freund.
Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
You can also follow the podcast on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sufferthelittlechildrenpodcast
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpod
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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod
My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod
Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.
Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts. Pledges of $5 or more per month access ad-free versions of my regular Wednesday episodes. Pledges of $10 or more per month access a small but growing collection of Patreon-exclusive bonus minisodes! Visit www.patreon.com/STLCpod. (www.patreon.com/STLCpod)
This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.
For more stories like this one, visit https://sufferthelittlechildrenblog.com.
Music for this episode is from https://audiojungle.net.
Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
Google Podcasts: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/I5mx3lacxpdkhssmk2n22csf32u?t%3DSuffer_the_Little_Children%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KE
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...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.
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Previous Episode

Episode 21: Sereniti Sutley (Re-Edited / Re-Released)

On October 7, 2017, 22-year-old Kelsie Blankenship burst out of her Conneaut, Ohio apartment, carrying the limp body of her almost-13-month-old daughter, Sereniti, and screaming for help. It was too late, however, and Sereniti was pronounced dead at the hospital. After both Kelsie and her live-in boyfriend, 37-year-old Joshua Gurto, were questioned, Joshua went on the run, resulting in a 3-week manhunt that culminated with his capture in Franklin Park, Pennsylvania. He was charged with the rape and murder of his girlfriend’s baby girl. A full year later, Kelsie Blankenship was apparently blindsided when she, too, was arrested in connection with her daughter’s death.
This is the horrific story of Sereniti Sutley.
(Note: This episode was originally released in July of 2020. This version has been re-edited for re-release.)
Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
You can also follow the podcast on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sufferthelittlechildrenpodcast
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpod
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod
My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod
Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.
Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts. Pledges of $5 or more per month access ad-free versions of my regular Wednesday episodes. Pledges of $10 or more per month access a small but growing collection of Patreon-exclusive bonus minisodes! Visit www.patreon.com/STLCpod. (www.patreon.com/STLCpod)
This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.
For more stories like this one, visit https://sufferthelittlechildrenblog.com.
Music for this episode is from https://audiojungle.net.
Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
Google Podcasts: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/I5mx3lacxpdkhssmk2n22csf32u?t%3DSuffer_the_Little_Children%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children
Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/suffer-the-little-children
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KE
iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/77891101/
...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support.

Next Episode

Episode 124: Hazel Homan (Part 1)

On November 27, 2019, 27-year-old Kamee Dixon called 911, saying her stepdaughter had choked and was unresponsive. Sadly, the damage to three-year-old Hazel Homan’s brain was not survivable. After police found evidence of a pattern of abuse, Kamee was arrested and charged with her murder.
This is the story of how child protection agencies failed a little girl who was removed from her parents’ custody, placed with her grandparents for a year and a half, and returned to her father’s home in June of 2019, only to die five months later. It’s also the story of a precious three-year-old girl with long brown hair, pinchable cheeks, and big brown eyes who loved Baby Shark, chicken nuggets, and playing with her toy ponies.
This is part one of the heartbreaking story of Hazel Homan.
Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
You can also follow the podcast on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sufferthelittlechildrenpodcast
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpod
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod
My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod
Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.
Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts. Pledges of $5 or more per month access ad-free versions of my regular Wednesday episodes. Pledges of $10 or more per month access a small but growing collection of Patreon-exclusive bonus minisodes! Visit www.patreon.com/STLCpod. (www.patreon.com/STLCpod)
This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.
For more stories like this one, visit https://sufferthelittlechildrenblog.com.
Music for this episode is from https://audiojungle.net.
Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
Google Podcasts: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/I5mx3lacxpdkhssmk2n22csf32u?t%3DSuffer_the_Little_Children%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children
Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/suffer-the-little-children
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/PC:61848?part=PC:61848&corr=podcast_organic_external_site&TID=Brand:POC:PC61848:podcast_organic_external_site
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KE
iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/77891101/
...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support.