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Four months before 5-year-old A.J. Freund was killed, he told a doctor "maybe someone hit me with a belt. Maybe mommy didn't mean to hurt me" after police found a mysterious bruise on his hip, according to a timeline released by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
One month after an appeals court ordered a new trial for 53-year-old James Gibson in the 1989 murders of two men, based on evidence he was tortured into confessing, prosecutors have dropped charges, but insist he was not wrongfully convicted.
Four months before 5-year-old A.J. Freund's parents allegedly beat him to death, there appear to be significant discrepancies between a police report noting deplorable conditions inside the family's house, and a home visit by a DCFS investigator the next day, which ultimately deemed an allegation of neglect to be unfounded.
A.J. Freund's parents forced the 5-year-old into a cold shower for an extended period of time, and the 5-year-old was repeatedly struck all over his body, leading to his death, McHenry County prosecutors alleged in court Thursday morning.
A 33-year-old reputed gang member has been convicted of murder in the 2012 shooting death of 7-year-old Heaven Sutton, who was killed by a stray bullet while selling snow cones and candy in the North Austin neighborhood.
Detectives in northwest Indiana have released surveillance images of two people wanted in connection with the murder of a 19-year-old man in Gary.
A 7-year-old girl who was gunned down while selling snow cones in Chicago 2012 would have been 14-years-old this year.
Kevin Clewer's family handed out flyers Saturday and encouraged anyone with information to come forward and help solve the crime.
An Indianapolis man has been charged with killing a 35-year-old woman and her 13-year-old son last month in Gary, Indiana.
The bond for a Wheaton man accused of murdering his brother-in-law was set at $3 million Monday, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
A man convicted in the September 2013 murder of a Wheaton woman has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The mayor of Aurora said he was blindsided that Thomas Kokoraleis, a convicted murderer and sex offender, is Aurora's newest resident. He lives at Wayside Cross Ministries, and the mayor is calling it a risk the city shouldn't have to take.
Thomas Kokoraleis went to prison for the 1982 murder of a woman who lived in Elmhurst. Now he's a free man, despite efforts to keep him locked up.
Kokoraleis served more than 36 years behind bars for the murder of Lorry Ann Borowski before he was released from the Illinois River Correctional Center on Friday morning.
Here are five fast facts about Thomas Kokoraleis, who was released from prison Friday after serving more than 36 years in prison for the grisly 1982 murder of Lorraine "Lorry" Ann Borowski.
Hundreds of family, friends, and fellow officers turned out Friday morning for the funeral for slain Officer John Rivera, killed while off-duty last weekend in the River North neighborhood.
The man accused of kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs is expected to plead guilty in Wisconsin Wednesday.
The two men charged with the murder of officer John Rivera both have past criminal records, according to Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson.
Menelik Jackson 24, and Jovan Battle 32, both were charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder. Jackson also was charged with one count of resisting/obstructing a police officer.
A Villa Park man has been arrested in the fatal shooting of a security guard at River North nightclub Sound Bar on March 8.
Authorities in Wisconsin continue to search for a missing 2-year-old girl from Milwaukee, who might have been kidnapped her father, who also is suspected of killing her mother.
A man charged in the disappearance of a South Chicago Heights mother of six is due in court today. Family reported Jessica Flores missing last month.
The man charged with killing a McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy at a Rockford hotel was scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday.
The man who shot and killed a McHenry County deputy is still in the hospital but is expected in court next week, police say.
Floyd Brown, 39, has been arrested on federal murder charges, and could face the death penalty, after he allegedly shot and killed McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Keltner.
The group says federal troops are not the answer to reducing crime in Chicago and calls the proposal "dangerous" and "misguided."
The victim was reportedly found on the third floor of an apartment building.
Officials have not released the cause of the fire, but neighbors told CBS News Chicago they woke up to a loud blast.
Anthony Filomena said his firing by the Chicago Blackhawks has made it difficult to find another job in public relations.
Ariel Atkins led Chicago (9-28) with a season-high 30 points.
Military members could soon be patrolling city streets in Chicago, as per potential plans from the Trump Administration that Chicago and Illinois leaders have denounced.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker spoke at a news conference Monday afternoon, addressing reports President Trump is planning to send the military to Chicago. Here is the full text of his remarks.
The moves are a part of President Trump's ongoing federal anti-crime crackdown.
At a news conference Monday afternoon on reported plans by President Trump to send the military to Chicago, state and city leaders forcefully rejected the notion. "Mr. President, do not come to Chicago," said Gov. JB Pritzker.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was taken into custody Monday by immigration authorities and the Department of Homeland Security said he is being processed for deportation to Uganda.
Many drivers are as frustrated with the unexplained spike in their auto insurance as they are with congestion on the roads.
The Arlington Heights Village Board on Monday night approved a new 5% streaming tax.
Morton Grove slapped the seller with code violations after the sale to the Hovey family was completed, which prevented them from getting a deed.
It turns out what Tom Kuznar of Mount Prospect thought was a small problem is actually a big mess affecting 25,000 taxpayers.
For the past five months, Paul Mitchell has been in talks with Citibank. He turned to CBS News Chicago when Citibank would not refund his money.
Illinois is one of 20 states now suing the Trump administration for withholding grant money for crime victims. In Illinois, $54 million goes to provide services for crime victims. Workers warn many will now be left behind.
A Chicago rock climber was grounded by a scary medical issue — a cyst in her brain. But a friendly face in the operating room helped Sophie Lin get to the gym again.
With school starting next week for thousands of students, health officials are urging parents to get their kids vaccinated.
Chicago public health officials on Tuesday confirmed the city's first three human cases of West Nile virus in 2025.
Sicknesses creep up with kids being in close quarters in school. With that in mind, a grieving Northwest Indiana family wants to share a message about vaccinating children.
A Wisconsin man has pleaded guilty to smuggling lab equipment to Russian companies in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Some of the fans who received the email have long histories with the team, and there are a lot of concerns.
The Board of Trade Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is closed on weekends and federal holidays.
Right now, it is not exactly clear how the tax will be passed onto the consumer. But vaping products and popular Zyn pouches will now be subject to a 45% tax — up from 15%.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has delivered a victory for environmentalists in the battle over the regulation of "forever chemicals" known as PFAS.
A Maryland ticket broker is accused of illegally purchasing and reselling hundreds of thousands of tickets for profit, including thousands to Taylor Swift's highly-sought Eras Tour.
President Trump announced this year's "truly exceptional class" of Kennedy Center Honorees and said he will host the annual ceremony himself.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed plans for a July 4, 2026 fight at the White House to mark America's 250th birthday.
Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," after a countdown tease on her website. The release date is now set for Oct. 3.
Paramount will become the new home to all UFC events in the U.S., while UFC's CEO says the White House may host a July 4 event broadcast on CBS.
There's a new wellness clinic coming to Lincoln Park.
Political analyst Pat Brady joins Marissa Perlman after Illinois leaders spoke out against President Trump's plan to possibly send National Guard troops to Chicago.
A boat on the highway? Kris Habermehl reports on a crash that closed lanes Tuesday morning.
Protesters blocked a highway in Tel Aviv, demanding the release of the hostages and an end to the war.
An apartment building fire displaced 12 people on Chicago's Near Northwest Side on Monday night.
Officials have not released the cause of the fire, but neighbors told CBS News Chicago they woke up to a loud blast.
The group says federal troops are not the answer to reducing crime in Chicago and calls the proposal "dangerous" and "misguided."
Chicago police are investigating after a large group burglarized the Nordstrom in River North Sunday evening.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker spoke at a news conference Monday afternoon, addressing reports President Trump is planning to send the military to Chicago. Here is the full text of his remarks.
The victim was reportedly found on the third floor of an apartment building.
Anthony Filomena said his firing by the Chicago Blackhawks has made it difficult to find another job in public relations.
In an exclusive interview, a whistleblower said the mental health crews want to work — but are being held back from helping people by limited hours and red tape.
Illinois is one of 20 states now suing the Trump administration for withholding grant money for crime victims. In Illinois, $54 million goes to provide services for crime victims. Workers warn many will now be left behind.
Neighbors in Lincoln Park said mail trucks parked as far as the eye can see along busy Clark Street aren't just taking up valuable parking, but potentially putting students in danger while they walk to school.
This week, Chicago's South and West sides were hit hard by flooding, and experts at the Morton Arboretum are connecting with city and neighborhood groups to help implement solutions.
Anthony Filomena said his firing by the Chicago Blackhawks has made it difficult to find another job in public relations.
Ariel Atkins led Chicago (9-28) with a season-high 30 points.
Smith (4-7) pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in his career, facing just 23 batters on 80 pitches.
Head coach Ben Johnson and the coaching staff have a few weeks to work out until that time, and then as Bears camp winds down.
A Chicago woman who is also an experienced and decorated marathon runner has completed a race unlike any other, at the North Pole.
Chicago police are investigating after a large group burglarized the Nordstrom in River North Sunday evening.
At a news conference Monday afternoon on reported plans by President Trump to send the military to Chicago, state and city leaders forcefully rejected the notion. "Mr. President, do not come to Chicago," said Gov. JB Pritzker.
Police said the suspect attempted to flee the scene in a gray sedan and hit a pole.
In just the first six months of the year, the Chicago DEA team seized 1.6 million pills of fentanyl. That is almost three times more than they did all of last year.
A report of an active shooter at Villanova turned out to be a "cruel hoax," according to the university president and Delaware County DA.
