Former Illinois Child Welfare Worker Sentenced for Role in A.J. Freund's Death

Carlos Acosta receives six months in jail for child endangerment, marking the first successful prosecution of a welfare worker in Illinois.

Acosta will also serve 30 months of probation, complete 200 hours of community service, and donate $1,000 to a children's advocacy center.
A.J. Freund's parents were convicted for his murder after he was reported missing and later found dead in 2019.
Evidence indicated Acosta ignored multiple signs of abuse and failed to act on reports of the boy's distressing living conditions.
The case has raised significant concerns about the oversight and accountability within the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Acosta's conviction highlights the potential consequences of inaction in child welfare investigations.