Former Home Alone house owner found dead days after arrest

• John Abendshien, 79, the former owner of the house featured in the movie Home Alone, was found dead at a nature preserve in Lake Forest, Illinois.
• His death occurred days after he was charged with seven felony offenses related to the possession of child sexual abuse material.
• Preliminary autopsy results suggest Abendshien died from asphyxia in a manner consistent with being self-inflicted, and investigators do not suspect foul play.
• Abendshien was taken into custody after a search warrant was executed as part of an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation, supported by cyber tips.
• He had attended a hearing where a petition to detain him was denied, and he was subsequently released with conditions.

IN FULL

Former owner of ‘Home Alone’ house found dead in nearby nature preserve after child sex crime charges