SANTEE, Calif. (KGTV) - A Santee family believes their loved one was among the four people killed by mysterious blue pills last week.
“That’s the biggest thing is, I’m pissed somebody is out there doing this,” said Dan Steele, the stepfather of Casey Force.
Force, 39, said goodbye to his mother as she left for work Wednesday night. The next morning, Force’s three sons woke up and found him dead in his bed.
Steele said the family hasn’t received an official cause of death, but deputies told him blue pills were found in the bedroom.
RELATED: Mysterious pills sold on the street linked to several deaths in San Diego County
Investigators say the mysterious pills, linked to four recent deaths in San Diego County, are counterfeit oxycodone, likely laced with fentanyl.
Force was nine months sober from his alcohol addiction and appeared to be succeeding as a painter. Steele said he didn’t know Force was taking painkillers or where they came from.
“It’s tough; it makes me mad that such a thing is out there,” said Steele. “They need to be off the streets, anybody pushing drugs needs to be off the streets.”
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Steele shared a message for other families in the wake of the drug deaths.
“Don't be afraid to talk about it; say something, bring some awareness,” Steele said. “Put it out there, nothing you get off the street is reliable. Always thinking about it as taking a death pill.”
The Sheriff’s Department has yet to make any arrests in the blue pill investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers.
A fundraising campaign has been set up to help the family with expenses.
