Support Coming For Family Of Inverness Boy Poisoned To Death By Dad

INVERNESS, IL — A day after police say that 10-year-old Inverness boy was poisoned to death by his father who also critically injured his 6-year-old daughter, a fundraising effort has started to assist the family with funeral costs.

Police said Monday that Woo Chang, 41, used a gas-powered generator to poison his two children with carbon monoxide at a home in the 2200 block of Palatine Road. Austin Chang, 10, died and his 6-year-old sister was injured and remains in critical condition at a local hospital. Woo Chang also died, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said.

A GoFundMe effort started on Monday has raised more than $27,000 as of Tuesday. Organizers of the effort said that contributions will help cover burial costs and medical expenses as well as financial assistance for Mr. Chang’s estranged wife.

Police said that Ms. Chang found her children and her estranged husband unconscious inside the home.

“Thank you for the outpouring of love and concern,” the GoFundMe effort said. “Please continue to keep the Chang family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

An autopsy was conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office and a spokeswoman told Patch on Tuesday that both cases are pending and that it could take several weeks to determine the cause and manner of death. Inverness Police said that it appears that the three people were overcome by carbon monoxide.

On Monday, Palatine Township Elementary District 15 officials confirmed the 10-year-old boy was a student at Frank C. Whiteley Elementary School in Hoffman Estates.

"The district is simply heartsick, and in both shock and mourning over the tragic loss of one of our students," a statement from the district said. "Our efforts right now are focused on offering support to staff and students at Frank C. Whiteley where the student attended school. 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."

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