Tag: 05

Jovany Morales

Photo of Jovany Morales's gravestone; it is a gray stone plaque decorated with a red ribbon and yellow flower.Name: Jovany Isaiah Morales.
Died: August 9, 2019.
Age at death: 6 months.
Cause of death: Heat stroke.
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: “Respiratory issues”.

Details:
Jovany was left in a hot car by his mother; he died of heat stroke. Although she said it was an accident, police suspect it may have been deliberate because she had a history of threatening to hurt herself and the child.

Case status:
Chantae Cabrera (Mother, aka Chantae Monique Armstrong), charged with first-degree murder, felony murder and aggravated child neglect.

Source:
DCS records: Mother sent texts threatening to hurt herself, child in months before he was found dead in hot car
Knoxville mother of infant who died has motion hearing continued to September
Cause of death for child found in vehicle in August revealed

Andrew Freund Jr.

Small boy in a big blue baseball cap and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-shirt. He has pale skin and his ears stick out, and he is smiling, showing he still has all his baby teeth.Name: Andrew “AJ” Freund Jr.
Died: April 24, 2019.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Woodstock, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Parents claimed he had oppositional defiant disorder to justify abuse. Whether AJ had a disability is unknown.

Details:
AJ spent some time in a foster home before being returned to his parents. His foster parents and one of his grandmothers released a statement that said, “This smart little boy loved having books read to him, doing puzzles, his Thomas the Train, playing with his fire trucks, bulldozers, cement mixer and Ninja Turtles. He was very curious and always wanted to learn about everything.”

AJ was regularly abused by his parents. He died of head injuries after having been forced to take a cold shower and beaten because he had lied about having dirty underwear.

Case status:
Joann Cunningham (Mother), pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, sentenced to 35 years with no parole.
Andrew Freund Sr. (Father), pleaded guilty to aggravated battery to a child, involuntary manslaughter, and concealing a homicidal death; sentenced to 30 years.

Source:
AJ Freund’s mother sentenced to 35 years in his beating, cold shower murder
A.J. Freund’s Mom Allegedly Had Video of Beaten Kid on Her Phone, Which Helped Solve Case: Docs
Warrant: AJ’s father says his mother killed the boy
Newly released documents reveal graphic details about AJ Freund case
Video of beaten 5-year-old AJ Freund on mom’s phone helped crack case, search was made for ‘child cpr,’ authorities say
Andrew ‘AJ’ Freund’s foster family releases statement: ‘AJ was loved by us’
Photos of AJ Freund’s Crystal Lake home reveal filthy living conditions
Cell phone video led to father’s confession in the killing of 5-year-old AJ Freund, police say
Grand jury indicts parents of slain Crystal Lake 5-year-old AJ Freund; court hearing scheduled for Friday morning