New theory after four found dead in home

Police say it’s possible the horror substance fentanyl could be involved in the presumptive overdose deaths of four people.

The four were found dead at a house in Melbourne’s north early on Tuesday.

The deceased were males aged 17, 32 and 37 and a 42-year-old woman.

Emergency services were called to the Broadmeadows home on Bicknell Court about 2am on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media, Corey, the teenager’s uncle, said he went to visit the home in the early hours of Tuesday and saw his nephew on the ground.

He then smashed the window of the unit to get into the home, where he found the bodies.

He believed they died of a drug overdose.

“I’ve come home to find family members in the house deceased and it’s just tortured me, shocked me,” Corey said.

“It’s really, really got to me.”

Speaking to Sunrise, he shared his love for his young nephew.

“He’s my nephew. He looks up to his uncle. Me being there is ultimately the best thing, you know, I’ve come home to find him gone. He was a kid, 17 years old. I wouldn’t know what’s caused this,” he said.

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said there were items that “may be” drug paraphernalia at the house.

Police were mindful of the possibility of fentanyl being involved, but it was too early in the investigation to say what substances were involved, he said.

However, there were “of course” concerns for other drug users, Inspector Thomas said.

“It’s unusual that we found four people deceased in one property from an overdose,” he said.

“It may be a drug overdose, it may not be.”

Forensic analysis of items in the house and post-mortem examinations of the bodies could take days or months, he said.

Inspector Thomas confirmed the uncle’s account of seeing the bodies

“It’s very unpleasant and for the person to have found them, very confronting and traumatic and for the families,” Inspector Thomas said.

“There was nothing to suggest any acts of violence.

“They obviously all know each other.”

The families of the deceased were being contacted but all four were yet to be formally identified.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers.