Investigators say that a father and son found dead in a Queens home were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. The bodies of Kuo-Kung Chen, 66, and his 29-year-old son Aaron were found yesterday when the older man didn't arrive to baby-sit his granddaughter.
There were extremely high levels of carbon monoxide, and investigators believe that a portable heater was responsible. Marian Chen, daughter and sister of the victims, said she was worried when her father didn't appear on Friday night, so she checked on them yesterday, telling NY1, "I drove down here and I asked the landlord and I crawled in through the window and I found them both in there." She added to the Post, "My father was in his bed and my brother was lying on the floor. It looked like he was trying to get out."
Another man, believed to be the landlord of the Ozone Park home, was hospitalized with CO poisoning symptoms but is expected to cover. The home did have a carbon monoxide detectors, but the batteries were apparently not working. The Office of Emergency Management says, "Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide - a colorless and odorless gas - can be produced from improperly vented furnaces, plugged or cracked chimneys, water heaters, space heaters, fireplaces, stoves, and tail pipes. Any vehicle or appliance that burns fuel may emit carbon monoxide" and has tips for preventing CO poisoning. Also, change your batteries for your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
