DCFS worker found guilty, supervisor acquitted in AJ Freund's death
In what is believed to be the first successful prosecution of its kind in Illinois, a former child welfare worker, Carlos Acosta, has been found guilty of child endangerment in the beating death of 5-year-old AJ Freund. Acosta's supervisor, Andrew Polovin, was found not guilty. AJ died in April 2019 after being beaten by his mother, JoAnn Cunningham. Acosta, who was the case investigator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, faces two to 10 years in prison or probation. This case is seen as a potential shift in holding child welfare workers accountable and bringing attention to the agency's deficits in investigating cases and ensuring child safety.