AJ Freund child abuse murder case: Mom wants new trial, claims she thought he was demonically possessed
CRYSTAL LAKE, Illinois - JoAnn Cunningham, the suburban Chicago woman who pleaded guilty in the death of her son, AJ Freund, is challenging her conviction and 35-year sentence.
Cunningham says she had postpartum depression and psychosis when she killed her 5-year-old son.
The Crystal Lake woman claimed in her petition for post-conviction relief that she did not receive adequate counsel.
She claimed to have been seeing demons and believed her son was possessed by a demon, and said she sought an exorcism from a priest, a chaplain and AJ's father, The Northwest Herald reported.
If relief is granted, it could result in Cunningham's guilty plea and sentence being set aside and a date could be set for a new trial.