According to Oulu police, the murder that occurred in Sairaalanrinne was a result of a debt collection dispute. The crime was uncovered in October during the course of another police investigation when a deceased man, approximately 25 years old and from Oulu, was found in the apartment of one of the suspects. In the days following the discovery, four individuals were arrested by the police, including two men and two women, all approximately 35 years old, with three of them being detained on suspicion of murder.

Later, one of the women, who is around 30 years old, was released from custody and is no longer suspected of any involvement in the murder. Earlier in the year, the district court enforced enhanced travel bans on one of the detained men and the woman, releasing them from custody as well. However, one of the male suspects remains in detention while the investigation continues. Police Commissioner Tero Luukkonen indicated that there is a strong suspicion that the homicide is connected to demands for money that were enforced violently, highlighting concerns about the dangerous implications of debt-related conflicts in the community.