Drug intoxication killed man found in empty Jessup house

No indication of foul play, but police don't know if it was an accident or suicide

A 26-year man who was found dead last month in a basement storage room of an empty Jessup house died from cocaine intoxication, according to a preliminary autopsy report by the state's medical examiner.

Elizabeth Schroen, a by Howard County police spokeswoman, said Thursday that "there was no foul play" in Najib Malik Abdullah's death and that police are still trying to determine whether his death was an accident or suicide. Police discovered Abdullah's body April 30 after the owners of the house, located in the 8700 block of Mary Lane, smelled a strong odor coming from behind the door to the storage room. Abdullah's 5-year-old son was also found in the room, unharmed but severely dehydrated.

Police had been looking for Abdullah for several days after he left his family's home nearby after allegedly assaulting his father, Ahmir Andrew Abdullah. A warrant had been issued for the younger Abdullah's arrest and police searched the area using helicopters and search lights.

Police said that Abdullah left his fathers's house with the boy and then broke into the home – located about a mile away – through a basement window. The house was empty because its owner, John Wise Jr., had died on April 15. Police had gone to the house after Wise's son had reported a possible break-in after noticing the broken basement window, but were unable to open the door to the storage room.

None of Abdullah's family members could be reached for comment.

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