Page 3 Chicago Tribune columnist Rex Huppke writes today about Chicagoland’s concern for AJ Freund’s welfare.

Here’s part, but the whole column is worth reading:

“We worried about him as news of his case spread from his hometown of Crystal Lake in McHenry County to every home and tavern, every cubicle and dinner table and street corner in the greater Chicago area. Stories about the case led nightly newscasts, and daily updates hovered among the most-viewed stories on the Chicago Tribune’s website.”