Austin Chang
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CANDID ID: IL_22_1373
AGE
10   years
STATE
Illinois
DATE OF DEATH
9/11/2022
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
Austin Chang, a 10-year-old boy, died on September 11, 2022, from carbon monoxide toxicity ruled a homicide. His father, Woo Chang (41), allegedly intentionally placed a generator inside their Inverness, Illinois home during a custody visitation, exposing both Austin and his 6-year-old sister to lethal levels of carbon monoxide. The children's mother called police after the father failed to return the children at the scheduled time, and upon arriving at the home found her estranged husband and both children unconscious. Austin and his father were pronounced dead; the sister survived in critical condition.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

The news article states that the father "allegedly poisoned them with carbon monoxide before his own death inside a northwest suburban Inverness home." The victims are identified as "Woo Chang, 41, and his 10-year old son, Austin Chang," indicating both father and son died in the same incident. The father intentionally placed a generator inside the home, killing the children and himself, which constitutes a murder-suicide.

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

The news article states that "their father allegedly poisoned them with carbon monoxide before his own death." The article identifies the father as Woo Chang, 41, and refers to the children as "their two children," confirming he is the biological father. The mother is described as calling about "her estranged husband and their two children."

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Notable Details

The news article provides important context about a custody/visitation arrangement surrounding the death. The mother 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." This establishes that the death occurred during a father's visitation period in the context of an estranged/separated parental relationship. Additionally, the child's 6-year-old sister was also poisoned and hospitalized in critical condition, making her a surviving victim of the same attack. These details — the custody/visitation context and the sibling also being targeted — are material to understanding this case as an instance of custody-related filicide.

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