The homicide squad will not investigate a mass drug overdose that is believed to have killed four people in a Melbourne home unless there is new evidence of foul play.
Abdul El Sayed, 17, Michael Hodgkinson, 32, a 42-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man all died in the living room of a unit in the northern suburb of Broadmeadows a month ago.
On Thursday, a Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed that the investigation was still being led by local police, but that no foul play was suspected.
“The Hume Crime Investigation Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four people in Broadmeadows last month,” he said in a statement.
“The deaths of all four individuals are being treated as non-suspicious at this time.”
Locals continue to speculate on sinister theories surrounding the mass death tragedy after toxicological evidence showed synthetic opioids were found in their systems.
A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, claims that the phones of all the deceased were stolen by the person who supplied the deadly drugs.
The same person is also said to have taken gruesome photos of the four after they were found dead.
Tributes remain on the front door of the unit where four people died
A mass drug overdose that is believed to have left four people dead at a house in Melbourne’s Broadmeadows may be linked to a deadly new form of cocaine flooding the market
Victoria Police declined to comment on the allegations.
“As the matter is now before the coroner, it is not appropriate to provide further details at this time,” the spokesperson said.
Just days after the tragedy, police confirmed they had found evidence that the victims had all used synthetic drugs.
“Preliminary testing has confirmed that all four individuals had a synthetic opioid in their systems,” police said in a statement at the time.
‘No fentanyl has been found at this time.’
The revelation followed an alert from Victoria’s Department of Health warning that cocaine laced with protonitazene, a new synthetic opioid, was being distributed across the state.
The drug is believed to be 100 times stronger than heroin.
“There have recently been serious accidents in Melbourne involving a white powder sold as cocaine that contained protonatazene,” the warning said.
‘The product appears to cause, among other things, unconsciousness, respiratory depression and life-threatening hypoxia (insufficient oxygen for normal functioning).’
Michael Hodgkinson was one of four people who died in a suspected overdose in Broadmeadows last month
Abdul El Sayed, 17, (right) leaves behind a partner and an 18-month-old daughter
Abdul’s uncle Cory Lewis out of unit after shocking deaths
Initially, police were seen entering the building using oxygen tanks as it was feared the four individuals had been intoxicated by some form of gas.
Carbon monoxide poisoning was quickly ruled out after a dog was found alive in the house.
Abdul’s uncle, Cory Lewis, also told Daily Mail Australia he believed his nephew had died of a drug overdose.
Mr. Lewis discovered the gruesome scene and reported the incident to the police.
“I went right in there and I didn’t smell anything,” Cory said.
The deaths coincided with an announcement by the Victorian government that drug controls would be introduced after 46 overdose deaths linked to new synthetic opioids were recorded since 2022.