By Dan Proudman and Alan Hardie
A lethal batch of synthetic cannabis is suspected of contributing to the death of a youth in the Hunter Valley region and causing two others to become critically ill in a neighbouring suburb.
What was initially suspected of being the accidental death of popular teen Dean Shield, who was found unresponsive in a drain on Saturday night, has turned into a major investigation as detectives work on whether it is connected with the 17-year-old experimenting with a form of synthetic cannabis.
Dean's body was found by a resident in Rutherford, near Maitland, several hours after he is believed to have bought and taken some of the controversial substance.
And, as detectives continued trying to source the origin of the synthetic cannabis on Sunday, emergency services were called to a Telarah residence after two more youths, both aged 22, fell ill.
Dave Pettit was mowing the laneway next to his house in Rutherford when he found the body of Dean Shield lying next to the drain.Credit: Perry Duffin
Their conditions were not immediately known on Sunday afternoon, although police said their condition was not life-threatening.
Central Hunter crime manager Detective Inspector Mitch Dubojski warned other youths who may also possess the drug to throw it away.
"Anyone using any form of drugs is putting themselves at extreme peril," Detective Inspector Dubojski said.
The cause of Dean's death will not be known until at least an autopsy is done, possibly on Tuesday, although toxicology results could take much longer.
Tragic death: Dean Shield.
But police are concerned that the ingesting of some form of synthetic cannabis related directly to his death.
Well known brands of synthetic cannabis were outlawed in NSW in 2013 following a series of deaths, including at least two in the Hunter.
However, there have been concerns that manufacturers were sidestepping the legislation by making subtle changes to the drug's chemical compounds so they differed from those on the banned list.
There has also been anecdotal evidence that some of the more popular synthetic drugs, such as Chronic, were still being sold on a burgeoning black market.
The teen's body was discovered early on Saturday evening when resident Dave Pettit decided to mow a laneway off Bairds Close because the undergrowth was getting thick.
It is unknown for how long the body had been there.
"My mower hit the edge of a drain in the laneway - then I saw an arm sticking out," Mr Pettit said.
"I was shocked - I couldn't believe what I was looking at.
"So I moved closer and saw a man lying face up in the grass.
"I was hoping it was somebody who might just be lying there drunk.
"I shook him and tried to wake him up.
"He didn't move and I had a pretty good idea he was dead.
"Then I just rang triple zero and waited for police."
Mr Pettit said he could see no injuries on the body and no signs of blood.
"I did hear one police officer say there appeared to be nothing suspicious about this," Mr Pettit said.
"But it is really sad to know somebody so young has apparently died by themselves out here.
"We don't know if he was alone or with someone.
"But a lot of people do come past here on their way to and from the local pub."
Dean's family were too distraught to talk about his death on Sunday, although sister Kayla Gynn did write that he was a "good kid who could do anything when he put his mind to it".
"Honestly, there was never a dull moment when he was around," Ms Gynn wrote to the Newcastle Herald.
"His laugh was contagious and our lives are never going to be the same without his cheeky presence."
Detectives had been called out on Saturday night following the discovery and quickly determined the death was not suspicious, which remains the case.