Denver, Colorado – Officials in Denver are investigating a string of deaths that occurred outdoors and may be linked to drug overdoses rather than the bitter cold weather. Over the past week, five incidents resulted in deaths not classified as homicides, according to the Denver Police Department.
While the Office of the Medical Examiner has not yet determined the cause of these deaths, the city’s Department of Health and Environment has suggested that the first four may be attributed to drug overdoses. The fifth death, which occurred on Tuesday, is still under investigation, and an autopsy is scheduled to be completed on Wednesday.
So far in 2023, the city has seen 459 drug overdose deaths, with a month still remaining in the year. It is worth noting that there may be a delay in the reporting of statistics by several weeks. Additionally, it is important to clarify that the term “outdoor death” does not necessarily indicate that the individual was homeless; rather, it simply implies that the body was found outside, including inside a vehicle.
Despite some of these deaths occurring during a weekend where temperatures dropped to the low 20s, city officials have indicated that the cold weather is unlikely to have been the primary cause. The Office of the Medical Examiner has found no clear signs of hypothermia during their autopsies. At this time, investigators have not established any connections between these deaths, and they are uncertain whether there have been any changes in the drug supply that might have contributed to these cases.
In conclusion, Denver officials are looking into a series of outdoor deaths that they suspect may be linked to drug overdoses rather than cold weather. The Office of the Medical Examiner is currently investigating the cause of these deaths, and preliminary indications suggest that the first four deaths were likely due to drug overdoses. As the investigation continues, more information will be provided as it becomes available.