Mom Bashes Son's Head In For Casting Evil Spells + CPS Gets Prison Time 

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Finally, neglectful cps workers who contributed to the death of a child gets charged. It feels like they almost always get off consequence free in these videos. Love you guys!

I've heard at least 20 stories about incompetent CPS workers, and this is the first time where justice was actually served

It kills me to imagine that this angel passed away believing he was “bad/evil”. His mother is a complete monster

I get that their main goal is to reunite families, but they need to do a better job at realizing that sometimes reuniting the family is putting the child in more danger than letting them be adopted and splitting the family up

CPS hires anyone off the street. Many kids are dead because CPS didn't do their job. They all need to be held accountable. RIP AJ.

It will never cease to tick me off every time I hear one of these stories where CPS interviews a child while the parent accused of abusing them is right there in the room with them. How have they not figured out that in a situation like that, the child will lie because the threat is right there in the room with them? It's like they deliberately set things up so they can claim they found no issues that needed to be taken care of - just to lighten their load.

The recordings of AJ played in court were both telling and heartbreaking. Hearing a 5 year old say, in a fearful and distressed tone,things like "I don't want a family anymore" and hoping "bad people" would come to get his own mother should be seen as damning red flags for CA. That's really heartbreaking and it's disgusting that Joanne would respond by belittling him and threatening him.

CPS seems to do more bad than good for kids in danger and that’s terrifying.

I feel so bad for kids that live in chaos and abuse.

Joanne Cunningham was deemed acceptable to foster children in the State of Illinois. Mind blowing, right?

YOU DIVORCED HER FOR ABUSE AND LEFT THE CHILDREN?!

GEEZ: That ending statement was spot on. AJ saved that unborn child of misery / torture. Unfortunately that cost his life. R.I.P Little Hero. 😢

3:18 _”He worked part-time as a bagger at a local grocery store….”_ Imagine hiring a lawyer for a very serious matter in your life and then running into him as he bagged your groceries….Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being a bagger, it’s honest work, but if your lawyer can’t make a living as an attorney without supplemental work, I would be dubious as to his skill level… 😬😅

I’m so sick of the word“unfounded”. What constitutes grounds for? Why don’t these CPS agencies look more closely? Why do so many children suffer and die in cases considered “ unfounded”? It’s maddening and utterly gut wrenching. At least for this abomination one of the CPS workers was charged. Still, what were the true consequences suffered? Dead is dead; and another beautiful innocent is lost. 😢😢

DCS needs to change their priorities from "returning the children to their families whenever possible" to "doing what is best for the physical, emotional, and mental well-being and saftey of the children". In some cases, that would mean returning the kids to their families once things are stable, and in some it would mean completely stripping parental rights and allowing the children to be adopted, but regardless, it would be about the safety of the children, WHICH SHOULD BE THEIR PRIORITY IN THE FIRST DAMN PLACE.

I hope you guys are taking care of yourselves. I imagine these stories can take a toll. Thank you for standing up for the victims and their families. 🌻

I just finished the video. How can ANYONE beat a child like this?? Your Own child to boot???!!! I’m positive he was crying. Begging “mommy” to stop. How the hell can that alone not make you stop? Whether she left her cool or the punishment got out of hand how can hearing a babies cries of pain not stop a MOTHER ??? And before I get any scrutiny NO I am not saying it is okay, maybe she lost her temper. No absolutely not. I don’t know how she could have done it in the first place but how can the tears and cries of you own child not break your heart. This is so disgusting. So many parents that should not have blessed with such little bundles of joy. Children are our joy. So disgusting.

Drewby and Yergy, you are second to none when it comes to thorough information with a huge emphasis on respect towards the victims. I hope you inspire other channels to make it the norm to open their video talking about who the victim was, because not many others do to the extent that you do.

Finally, a case where the guilty CPS worker faces consequences

i am so happy they charged CPS, this needs to be all states.

So happy someone is FINALLY covering this case! This case is local for me and the emotional rollercoaster that myself and the community went through was insane. When he was first claimed as "missing" everyone was keeping an eye out for him, hoping he'd be found safe. However, many people had a whole hell of a lot of suspicion when it came to his so-called “parents.” Nobody was really shocked when the truth came out. But man were people not only shocked at the cruelty, but also absolutely LIVID. There was blood in the water for sure. The case is still talked about to this day and you still even see little stickers on people’s cars of a blue ribbon with Aj written across it. 💙

I went through something similar as far as opiates are concerned. Fibromyalgia and other problems caused me so much pain it became unbearable. My doctor prescribed opiates, and eventually I was in a pain clinic. After over twenty years of opiates, the politics changed. The pain didn't go away, just the medication. Long story short, I'm in my 60s and addicted to fentanyl. It was all I could find. No one would believe it. I'm a functional addict. I always pay my rent and bills on time, in full. My house is immaculate. I'm in really good health, and stay in shape by going to the gym. I just need to be medicated. I don't sit around smoking drugs all day. Three times a day I smoke...in the morning, after coffee, around noon, and again at bedtime. That's it. To me it's *medication.* one that's been in my life now for over three decades. Don't judge anyone...it could be you one day...

I suggested this case to a few channels a while ago, so glad it's getting more coverage.

I personally appreciate you guys bringing awareness to the constant negligence of CPS. I was severely abused in foster care and affected by their very broken system. People act so shocked when I talk about it. But channels like this, however hard it may be to watch or hear, help to shed light and bring a voice to those who no longer have one. Thank You, Misery Machine. You give me so much hope for change.

This was two streets away from where I lived at it was such a sad story and the whole town was shocked. They tore down the house due to everything and the vigil was so sad to see it covered the whole yard

Needed this while I’m bored at work. Thanks yall! Damn. That was a rough one. It’s hard not to hate people like Joanne.

Another murdered child,just heartbreaking, when will these monsters stop?😢

So, compared to other cases with failed CPS/DCFS workers, this case at least APPEARS better-in the beginning years…other than a few missteps, such as going to the wrong house for welfare checks, not thoroughly following-up with the family…ultimately closing the case (!). I mean, CPS not investigating more due to a utilities “issue”? Wtf? Not to mention not digging deep enough on A.J.’s burns, scars, and declaring the home fit for children to return-to… Shit, after Joanne was found asleep (and nearly OD’d) in her car, 40 miles from their home, the kids should’ve been retaken at that moment, even if she refused a drug test. …Track marks aren’t “probable cause”? 🤔 if you can be searched for any little reason possible, I’d think track marks, and being found passed out in your car, 40 miles away, and giving some bizarre excuse about stopping your “man” from buying drugs in the city? All probable cause to me… and there we go, she mentioned her reason for being so far away, drugs! Not for her specifically, though that’s irrelevant, as they are still being brought-up… towards the end of this case, DCFS started to fail. In the beginning it seemed good, and A.J.’s foster mother seemed pretty legitimate.

This happened in the town near me. It was so horrible. I still have AJ’s sticker on my car. Sweet little angel.

As horrifying as this case is, there is a tiny ray of sunshine in the darkness: AJ's suffering and gruesome death may have saved many, MANY children from a similar fate because FINALLY those woefully inadequate, neglectful, utterly unconcerned CPS workers who let him and so many others down got at least a measure of the punishment they deserve. Those who closed cases rather than do the work, make the home visits... you know, like actually INVESTIGATE... well, they'll have lots of time to think about what they've done and they'll meet lots of pissed off people(many with VERY good reasons to hate CPS) who'll remind them of what they did and didn't do.

A drug addicted alcoholic lawyer working out of his house and a part time bagger at the grocery store. I need this guy for my criminal defense case

These are such hard stories to watch and thank you for giving these children a voice. I’m so glad finally someone at dcfs was held accountable! And may “mom” and “dad” rot in prison!

CPS: our motto is “too little, too late.”

At the time this horrible case happened, I was living in Woodstock, IL where AJ’s body was found. I will never, ever forget when they found him & there were news helicopters flying around near my house. My daughter, who was 5 at the time, just like AJ, kept asking why they were there. They tore that house down in Crystal Lake, thankfully. Rest in peace, sweet boy.

This little guy hzs always had a special place in my heart. I'm glad CPS also finally was held accountable for once. Too many times they look the other way. Heartbreaking. Fly high AJ❤❤

I think that CPS should more often get prison time if they mess up so much.

Why does CPS exist. They seem to do nothing that needs to be done. Or they do things that are extreme when not needed. It is all the time. Every 1 out of 25 is charged with something when it probably should be 25 out of 25. Its getting so old.

If this home n parents were deemed safe.. can you imagine the ones that weren’t??? I can’t even let my mind go down the dark path these boys lived! Hearing the story haunts me!!!! I just can’t!!

I want to say the most horrible things right now about this 'mother'.. but all I can say is that I am forever grateful that this child has gone to the loving home, where he will get all the love, joy, and attention he will ever need. The person who birthed him ripped him from the mortal coil, but he is no longer in pain. Rest in peace, beautiful innocent AJ...

AJ's case has always tugged at my heart strings😢 Just seeing the pictures of Joann from earlier in her life to when AJ was ki🏒🏒ed, you can see that she allowed drug's to take complete control of her. IMO, everyone involved got off with a slap on their hands. Rest in Heaven little AJ🙏🙌

We have to keep exposing those people who are supposed to protect our children from the evil in the world. You’s two do a fantastic job. There will be children you saved thanks to your hard work and dedication. I know it is a tough job. I cry with you. I smile with you. Happy Holidays to you and all 🩵♥️🩵♥️🩵♥️

My niece lives about 2 blocks from this hell house. This house is torn down now. There was no fixing up the house of horror. What a horrific story.

This is so heartbreaking! OMG! 😭😭 WHY do monsters do this horrible horrible things and kill innocent babies???? It infuriates me! My older son WAS diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, and as hard as it was, EVERYDAY, I loved him through it, we made it through it, and he was never abused.. No child deserves to be hurt! Everyone should be charged! Disgusting! Rest in peace sweet boy, you were too good for this World 🕊️🥺

I’ll never forget this day. I lived less than a mile from their house. The whole sky filled with helicopters just for our community to find out what they did to their own child… it was horrible I still cry when I hear Andrew sr. “AJ please come home” knowing he and his wife had already disposed of him near mchenry…

That poor grandmother went through it all while trying to raise and help her GRAND CHILD, grandparents are amazing, they raise their children just to become grandparents and care even more for their grandchildren ❤ it's truly amazing. My mother died 1 yr ago today 12-19-22.... And she was the best mother I could've truly ever had and she was an amazingly loving, caring, grandparent. Honestly she was like a second mother to my oldest (my older father is pretty absent) my mother cut her umbilical cord when she was born and she was always right there for me always and always was front line for my oldest, my youngest is just 3 she will never know what a great wonderful grandma she had either. Man I miss my mother. I truly commend grandparents for all they do! RIP Mom ❤😢

I live in IL and was in the system as a child. From age 7 to 18. They put me in 2 abusive foster homes. I was lucky..in that I didn't die. DCFS have been doing some shady sh*t. There are kids here that have died in foster care. It's like DCFS has too much power. Some foster parents just foster for the money. They don't care about the kids. In my opinion it would be foster parents are not screened enough. And they aren't watched closer. I worry about these kids so much. They're going through horrible pain..they don't have loving homes. It's so scary. 😢

This is why, with few exceptions, I detest bureaucrats and bureaucracies. Whatever their attitudes on joining the bureaucracies, most bureaucrats think more about routines and processes and less and less about the people these bureaucracies are supposed to serve or monitor. As a result, they tend to turn a blind eye to anything that would disturb their routines and processes, and consequently things slip through the cracks and people get hurt -- or die. Too often those people are children, including very young children. I don't know how this can be rectified, but legislative and taxpayer oversight might be a good start.

Anyone reading this🙏 Please get help if you have a drug problem. Please, I beg you ,I lost my daughter on September 29,2023 I wish my daughter would have listened. She would have been here today 😢 RIP Carrie Lynn 08/10/1981- 09/29/2023

I followed Ajs case since he was reported missing and never once did I hear anything about him "casting spells" 😢

To the 54 other people who gave this video a thumbs up prior to having the time to watch it: I’m the 55th, and I give YOU a thumbs up! The Misery Machine always delivers excellent content.

This poor little guy. My heart is broken. How many kids are suffering this kind of abuse Right Now? How many need rescue? Where are all the people who need to step in and stop this?

What a horrible world we live in 😢

I've reported a neighbor for abuse/neglect to dcfs before in WA state,they told me they had to have at least 3 reports,from 3 separate people to send someone out to investigate;bunch of bs,they need to respond more from reports from citizens that are trying to report them

I know this case and it’s awful but I feel like AJ deserves me to listen to his story again. Thank you for sharing AJ’s story. I’m so sorry sweet boy!

Thank you so so much for not saying that AJ was born “addicted” to drugs.

My 9 year old son has ODD (& ADHD) he was medically diagnosed when he was 6 years old by a pediatric neurologist. I struggled for many years with my son's severe behavior problems, especially aggressive behaviors towards me and his siblings. Sometimes his behavior would be so aggressive that it would scare me for his younger sibling.. but never once did I abuse him or even physically discipline him, especially since children with ODD tend to respond to physical discipline with revenge and more anger so it's not even a logical choice of discipline for children with ODD. My son takes medication and goes to therapy, and his behavior has improved *drastically* over the last few years. Hearing how this idiot "father" tried to say AJ had ODD and use it as an excuse really infuriated me.

I live an hour away from where this happened. I never heard anything about "spells"

This story is sickening! Not only the parents, but DCFS let this lil angel down. He clearly had a family who truly loved him. I’ve seen this case but you guys’d breakdown is by far the best out there . RIP lil Aj 👼So sorry there are cruel and evil drug addicted parents out there who only care for themselves

When I read cps jailed ..I clicked immediately we need to make this a norm for cases we're cps is the fault..thank you so much for the work you do

WOW. These 2 are something else. I have to sign an annual contract with MY Dr and you cannot get prescription narcotics replaced even if they are reported stolen. In the contract it saus you are responsible for your own medication and they are under NO obligation to replace it. I get random drug testing to be sure I have the medication in my system due to people selling their prescriptions

Sounds like the household I reported. The kid was telling me she was afraid to go into the basement and get her clothes because of the mice and roaches. According to her mother, the house was filthy because the six year old hadn't come up with and followed a chore schedule.

I love what you guys do, I also love you have your cats there in the room.

I live about a 1.5 miles away from where this happened and it shocked our entire town. Crystal Lake is a relatively small place and there is not a lot of crime here. However, because we're on the border of some more rural/lower income parts of the state, opioid problems are extremely common. It doesn't usually lead to murder, but this case was egregious nonetheless--They were living in a pretty nice part of town and this made it easy for his mother to conceal the abuse.

I could sob for what that little boy Austin had to witness

My heart hurt for these babies 😢 why not just put them up for adoption if these people don’t want to love them… there’s plenty of us out there who would ❤

My heart goes out to the kid and all the kids who have been victims. On this channel and everywhere.

This was literally 15 minutes from my house, been waiting for you guys to cover AJ for a long time ❤

I hate the word unfounded 😡 I don’t think I’ve ever heard of or used it in a conversation until I started researching CPS cases. It is nice to see that someone was held accountable for not doing their job.

this was absolutely horrifying

Ohhh my goodness!! i’m angry and heartbroken hearing how they treated that little sweet boy!

I appreciate the way you say as much as possible about Austin - things he liked to do, and his personality. I think it’s very respectful to focus on him as a person and not just as a victim. It’s hard bc he had such a short life, but I’m glad you do it.

AJ deserved so much better ❤ Also you keep a straight face and serious tone while your cats tail makes a special appearance makes me love this channel even more than I already did ❤

I complained to CPS and Police about a family member being addicted to ❄️ and🐴. We were ignored for three years. It took the kids being abandoned at my mothers house for almost a week for the cops and CPS to do anything. We called in a missing persons report and the officer responded with “yeah she doesn’t want to come home yet… you better give her the kids back when she comes back.” Needless to say, we have custody of one of them, the other is with her father. We were called recently when she had a third child in jail. I am disgusted by how CPS and police handle reports

Your videos always ALWAYS have me hearing Keanu in my head... "Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog. You need a license to drive a car - hell, you even need a license to catch a fish. But they'll let any butt-reaming asshole be a father. " 💔

I remember how a young black couple had both their babies taken away after a nurse got pissy at the mom after the baby was born… they kept the babies away for MONTHS… for NO REASON. CPS and judges can keep kids away… but they often do it to good parents. The system is broken.

Some people don't deserve children...or air.

I am so utterly amazed at every story. I adopted my son through DCF. He was my brother in laws son and we always had him. But the worst my brother in law did was not show up to visits and Kansas was like nope, you are done and terminated rights. My son deserved better than the life he would have had and I am so grateful everyday we were able to adopt him. But these absolute horror stories just amaze me coming from this side. My brother in law was absolutely worthless but nothing like any of this and his rights were terminated almost immediately. I just can't believe so many of these poor kids suffer like this and nothing is done. I am so glad my son didn't have to experience any of that. But I just can't believe how many do and no one gets punished for ignoring it. I am also amazed at her being able to keep her son when her foster son was taken away. We were renting from my father in law when we got custody of my cousin and his nephew who we later adopted. My cousin was never through DCF but when there were problems at the house and my father in law refused to fix them, they said we had to move or they would take both kids. We were in the process of moving but I just knew if we didn't find a place quick because this wasn't a planned move, they were not only going to take my son who was a foster at the time, but also my cousin. I cannot believe she was able to keep her child/children after having her foster son taken away. That absolutely blew my mind.

I know a gal that got caught up with heroin use and her three children were placed with her mom. But for some reason CPS also removed the kids from her and they have been adopted. Thankfully they were not going back and forth to mom and foster care. I think they were neglected but not physically abused. Had we been contacted we would have adopted them. This gal lived in a tent city for three years and lamented over the fact that she had a tubal legation?? NO! Thank goodness she did!!! I can't fathom how the one CPS worker did not see how filthy the home was. What is he use to?? She got bailed out? Got an attorney but could not pay her utilities? All I could think of was smelly she must be. That type of odor will stick to clothing and skin. Yeah, a good family who love their children. Those children knew nothing but abuse. Poor AJ. At least three people are held accountable.

one thing i notice a lot in true crime is that the victims are treated as only victims, you rarely hear anything about their actual personality or who they were as a person. i love that you take the time to honor these children by humanizing them and talking about how they were in the small amount of time they were in this world

if only she completed the mission of overdosing. The Grandmother could have got full custody of the baby AJ but still let him be with the foster parents surely.

First, I love the earrings! Being from a small town in Alabama, i e seen this story a hundred of times. This town has more addicts then not. And to see a child dirty, hungry, and cold is almost a norm. As far as DHR in this county, theres more cases then workers. Ive seen 5 different case workers for one case. They cant keep workers. This whole country has went down hill and we are seeing far more of these cases then a decade ago. I dont see a end to this in my life time, but i pray the numbers start to decline. Is must! Or the human race isnt gonna have much of a future.

Poor child. Why do parents insist on getting their kids back when they obviously don't care about anyone but themselves? There were people who loved them and wanted to keep them happy and safe . It's just too much. Thank you for giving them a voice. ❤

As someone from Lake County, this case is especially haunting, recognizing the town names and some of the photos of surrounding areas from the events. Rest in peace, AJ

The new homeowner who let them continue to "rent" there must have regretted that decision. Grim, vile monsters.

How is the system so incompetent with known drug use is dismissed?

Its rare for CPS to get held accountable. Glad to see that its actually possible.

My head spins with all the instances of neglect, abuse, illegal behavior, etc. and these monsters keep being allowed to have these innocent children. It’s appalling how completely broken the system is.

If your lawyer has a part time job as a grocery store bagger, that is a bad sign.

My family is from Crystal Lake. I was a teen when this happened, and visiting my family, so this was all anyone could speak about. A little while before the house was torn down, we drove by and felt such a gut-twisting sadness down the whole street. I still can't think of Crystal Lake the same

My mother was born addicted to opiates in 1935. - Her mother was a registered nurse (at that time her registration allowed her to order drugs through the mail), and many nurses misused various drugs. My mother was raised on a homestead in Montana for the first eight years of her life. - My grandmother was a terror of compulsive requirements and hateful abusive behaviors that were always made worse when an important package was lost or arrived late.

Even the thought of a poor little child being forced into a cold shower for punishment is horrifying enough & brings me to tears. Unforgivably that was the least of the horrors this poor wee boy suffered needlessly….if only the people who were supposed to serve & protect had done just that & removed him from his monstrous ‘parents.’ RIP sweet boy.😢

These stories enrage me. I did IV meth and heroin for 18 years. I never neglected or abused my kids. I worked, graduated college with honors, took my kids on vacations, did all their school stuff, have a nice 2 story home, 2 vehicles, etc. no excuses!! Yet, CPS took my eldest child and I fought them for 2 years! They sabotaged me and added things to my requirements constantly. Yet, continued to close this case?!? DO NOT REPORT TO CPS UNLESS YOU ARE 110% SURE! They cause more harm than good. Kids are 4.35 more likely to die in CPS and foster care, than with parents!!

Thank you for your extensive coverage of AJ`s story. While this isnt the first time hearing about it, you gave additional information i'd not heard. Plus you covered the CPS accountability that no others covered. Thank you.

Thank you for not playing the video of the mum torturing that poor little boy! My heart couldn’t take hearing him say, “I love my family.” Can you imagine how scared he must have felt?! Heartbreaking!

Any doctor who gives such a huge amount of various addictive drugs should lose their license. They should be given jail time.

Soo... after realizing he was missing from the house they checked to see if a 5 year old went alone to a gas station in Chicago to buy TREATS, the public local parks and the school play ground?? As if no one would notice a 3'5 five baby in a Mario sweatshirt buying items at a gas station or playing at the park ?? Sounds like they watched Home Alone before they make those stupid statements. 🙄

Thanks for the upload Misery machine. This case always gets me he was such a sweet little boy and he seemed so smart. I always wonder what he would have become what wonderful things he would have accomplished had his parents not been pieces of crap

I deeply admire your channel because you show so much compassion and empathy toward everyone involved. Thank you very much. You both do a wonderful job!❤

May he rest in peace and justice is served in his honor and so very glad that DFS got busted. Bless the people who honored him just wish he was saved 🙏 ❤️