A former state child welfare worker has been convicted of child endangerment in connection with the tragic beating death of a 5-year-old boy in suburban Chicago. Carlos Acosta, a case investigator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, was found guilty by Lake County Judge George Strickland. However, Acosta’s supervisor, Andrew Polovin, was acquitted of any charges.
The case revolves around the 2019 death of Andrew “AJ” Freund, who was brutally beaten by his mother, JoAnn Cunningham, and subsequently died from his injuries. Cunningham is currently serving a 35-year sentence for his murder, while AJ’s father, Andrew Freund Sr., received a 30-year sentence for trying to cover up the crime by burying the boy’s body.
Acosta and Polovin were accused of ignoring multiple warning signs of AJ’s abuse, but the judge found Acosta guilty of child endangerment while acquitting him of a reckless conduct charge. Strickland explained that he couldn’t determine how much Polovin knew about the abuse, leading to his acquittal.
According to authorities, Cunningham killed AJ on April 15, 2019, after becoming enraged about soiled underwear that he had tried to hide. She subjected him to a cold shower for at least 20 minutes, hit him in the head with the shower head, and then put him to bed cold, wet, and naked. AJ’s body was later discovered wrapped in plastic in a shallow grave near the family’s home in Crystal Lake.
The verdict has left Acosta’s attorney, Matthew McQuaid, and his client grateful. McQuaid expressed his belief that Polovin had not committed a crime and stated that his client, who was fired by the state, now works in a different field.
This tragic case highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing child abuse, as well as the responsibility of those in positions of authority to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable children.
