Illinois mom challenges conviction in 5-year-old son’s death

WOODSTOCK, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago woman who pleaded guilty in her 5-year-old son’s death is challenging her conviction and 35-year sentence. JoAnn Cunningham says she had postpartum depression and psychosis when she killed her 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.