Broadmeadows, Melbourne: Reason behind mystery deaths

All four people found dead in a suburban Melbourne home, including a 17-year-old, had synthetic opioids in their systems.

Police were called to a house in Broadmeadows on Bicknell Court at around 2am on June 26 after a neighbour went to investigate and discovered the bodies.

Michael Hodgkinson, 32, was one of four people found in the living room of a unit, along with Abdul El Sayed, 17, an unidentified 37-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman.

Victoria Police said on Thursday that the investigation into the Broadmeadows deaths was ongoing, but confirmed the discovery of drugs.

“Preliminary testing has confirmed that all four individuals had a synthetic opioid in their systems,” police said in a statement.

‘No fentanyl has been found at this time.

On Tuesday, Victoria’s Department of Health issued a warning about cocaine laced with protonitazene, a new synthetic opioid.

“There have recently been serious accidents in Melbourne involving a white powder sold as cocaine that contained protonatazene,” the warning said.

Abdul El Sayed, 17, (right) leaves behind a partner and an 18-month-old daughter

‘The product appears to cause, among other things, unconsciousness, respiratory depression and life-threatening hypoxia (insufficient oxygen for normal functioning).’

Police have appealed for the public’s help and are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

People with information about the supply of illegal drugs are also urged to contact Crime Stoppers or make a confidential report via www.crimestoppers.com.au.

Carbon monoxide poisoning was quickly ruled out because there was still a dog in the house.

Abdul’s uncle Cory Lewis also told Daily Mail Australia he was convinced his nephew had died of a drug overdose.

Mr. Lewis was the first on the scene and reported the incident to the police.

“I went right in there and I didn’t smell anything,” Cory said.

The health service warned that the new type of cocaine can produce strong effects even in very small amounts.

“Protonitazene has a potency more than 100 times that of heroin,” the warning states.

Cocaine has a stimulant effect, while proton pump inhibitors have a sedative effect and can lead to opioid overdose.

‘The concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors such as alcohol, GHB or tranquilizers (such as Xanax or Valium) increases the risk of overdose.’

It is known that carbon monoxide poisoning was quickly ruled out (the photo shows a forensic investigator entering the house in a protective suit)

The photo shows El Sayed’s distraught mother, Jessica Lewis (second from left), visiting the scene of the tragedy, supported by her brother Cory (left).

Preliminary forensic examination has revealed that all four individuals had a synthetic opioid in their system (pictured are family and police present at the home where the four bodies were found)

It was further stated that respiratory depression also occurs more rapidly with new synthetic opioids.

Taking protonatazene with alcohol or other prescription medications such as Xanax or Valium may also increase the risk of overdose.

Health officials have previously linked protonitazene to overdoses in Victoria and beyond, including a fatality in South Australia.

Authorities warned it was mixed with other drugs, making it difficult to trace where it came from.

Police are not treating the deaths as suspicious at this stage of the investigation, but believe they are primarily interested in the source of the drugs they believe the victims died from.

“We are still open to enquiries at this time as to what the cause of death is,” said Detective Constable Dean Thomas of Victoria Police.