Chilling new details have emerged about the “unusual” deaths of four people inside a Melbourne home as a second victim is identified.
Michael Hodgkinson, 32, was one of four people discovered in the lounge of the unit in Broadmeadows, 15 kilometers north of the CBD, shortly before 2am on Tuesday.
Abdul El Sayed, 17, a 37-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman were also discovered inside the Bicknell Court home by El Sayed’s uncle, Cory Lewis.
When the group did not respond to his call, Lewis smashed the window to gain access and then contacted emergency services.
Victoria Police will investigate whether an overdose of fentanyl, an opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, caused their deaths.
The synthetic opioid prescribed for chronic pain was the leading cause of overdoses in the United States in 2021, and the drug is feared to wreak havoc in Australia.
Detectives will also investigate whether the group overdosed on another synthetic opioid called nitazene or carbon monoxide leaking from a gas heater.
On Tuesday, officers donned full hazmat suits and oxygen tanks as they entered the property as emotional family members cried just feet away.
“We don’t know what caused his death,” Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said.
Michael Hodgkinson, 32, was one of four found dead in the lounge of the unit in Broadmeadows, 15 kilometers north of the CBD, shortly before 2am on Tuesday.
El Sayed (pictured right) leaves behind a partner and an 18-month-old daughter
Officers donned protective suits and oxygen tanks as they entered the property Tuesday.
“We have to keep an open mind, it is unusual for us to find four people deceased on one property, possibly from a drug overdose, but we have to keep an open mind and until we confirm that is the case, it could be anything.
“I can’t say definitively if (fentanyl) is involved.”
Detective Inspector Thomas said that while there was no indication that there had been any “act of violence”, there were some injuries that needed to be accounted for.
He added that items from the property would be removed from the scene, but did not confirm whether any drug-related material had been collected.
El Sayed’s devastated mother, Jessica Lewis, visited the scene of the tragedy on Tuesday morning, supported by her siblings.
Cory could be seen rubbing his sister’s back as they shed tears at the front of the unit block, which was cordoned off by police as a possible crime scene.
El Sayed leaves behind a partner and an 18-month-old daughter.
El Sayed’s devastated mother Jessica Lewis (pictured, second from left) visited the scene of the tragedy on Tuesday morning, supported by her brother Cory (left).
Family members, detectives and agents are seen outside the home on Tuesday.
Cory, who is also the brother-in-law of one of the dead, told 7News he believed the deaths were caused by a drug overdose.
“I came home and found members of my family deceased and that tortured me, it surprised me,” he told the media.
“I think (it was) an overdose, but I’m not sure exactly.”
Cory said the tragedy was the latest of many to affect his family.
‘We haven’t had a break. We just lost mom and dad too. Mom in November last year and dad on his own birthday,” she said.
Cory, who is also the brother-in-law of one of the dead, told media he believed the deaths were caused by a drug overdose.
Aside from drug speculation, Cory said his family did not know the precise cause of the deaths.
‘We are as clueless as you. “We don’t know what, but it looks like an overdose,” he said.
Cory’s brother, Brendan, said El Sayed “doesn’t even do drugs.”
“A little choof (marijuana) here and there, but that’s it,” he said.
Cory agreed that while the teen may have fallen under bad influences, he insisted that El Sayed “didn’t do meth” and “wasn’t an addict.”