Inverness father poisoned children with carbon monoxide, killing 10-year-old son: police

INVERNESS, Ill. (WLS) -- A 10-year-old boy is dead and his 6-year-old sister is in critical condition after their father allegedly poisoned them with carbon monoxide before his own death inside a northwest suburban Inverness home.

Inverness police said they were called to a home in the 2200-block of Palatine Road around 4:20 p.m. on Sunday by the children's mother.

Upon arriving, the woman told police she found her estranged husband and their two children unconscious inside the home after he failed to return the children at the scheduled time following visitation.

Inverness Police Chief Bob Haas witnessed the scene himself and said it's believed the father intentionally placed a generator inside the home.

SEE ALSO | 1-year-old dies after father intentionally left him in hot car, police say

"It's never a pleasant situation," Inverness Police Chief Bob Haas said. "I've been doing this for over 40 years, but it's a sad thing."

The victims are identified at Woo Chang, 41, and his 10-year old son, Austin Chang. Autopsies are scheduled for Monday.

Austin Chang was a student at Whiteley Elementary School. His school district said in a written statement: "The District is simply heartsick, and in both shock and mourning over the tragic loss of one of our students ... It goes without saying that this is a devastating loss for all of us here in District 15, especially as we look to the remainder of the school year where the child's absence will be felt by classmates and staff."