Police, Deaths | Trondheim: Deaths are linked to life-threatening tablets

The case is updated

(Nidaros): A woman in her 20s was found dead in a home in Trondheim, Monday 22 April. The case has previously been referred to as a suspicious death.

The police have now received a few more answers as to what may have caused the death. In the preliminary autopsy report, traces of nitaz were found in the blood of the deceased woman, the police write in a press release.

“Nitazen is a group of highly potent, synthetic opioids, which can be 100 to 1000 times stronger than morphine. Trøndelag police district has warned against nitaz several times in recent months, after this can be linked to several deaths in recent months, and after a seizure of tablets containing nitaz in Trondheim in March this year,” the police write.

The police warn the citizens against all forms of drugs and medicines, which are not legally prescribed by a doctor.

Police professional investigation manager Kristian Mørkved in Trøndelag police district told Nidaros ahead of the press release that the police have made several seizures at the scene, but do not want to say what they have seized.

– We are now going through electronic traces and questioning witnesses in the case. Further investigative steps will be assessed on an ongoing basis.

A man in his 30s who was arrested near the scene was later released. He is still charged with leaving her in a helpless state.

– One of the police’s hypotheses

The lawyer on call, Alexander Tokle, told VG that the police have kept the suspicion of overdose open, but that they do not yet know the cause of death.

Kristian Mørkved confirmed earlier on Wednesday to Nidaros that this is one of the police’s hypotheses.

– It is a young woman who has died and there are no injuries on her, so poisoning or overdose is one of the hypotheses we are investigating, says Mørkved.

– Do you have any main theories on the cause of death?

– We will not go out with it until we have received the final autopsy report.

– Were there more people at the address where the woman was found?

– The police have no information that there should have been others at the address.

– Two to four months

He goes on to say that they are also questioning people in their circle of friends to map out what may have happened.

– In questioning, the accused has not admitted criminal guilt for the relationship, and I do not want to comment on what he has said in questioning beyond this, police attorney June Falk-Larssen wrote in an e-mail to Nidaros earlier in the investigation.

That was also said by the man’s defender, lawyer Linn Haug Holm.

– But of course he has a very tough time.

Kristian Mørkved further says that it can take up to four months for the police to receive a response to the final autopsy report.