Pittsburgh police confirmed Friday that cocaine was found in the hotel room of Wardell R. Lazard, who police believe died of a drug overdose on Wednesday.
Initial police reports said Lazard, the fonder of WR Lazard & Co., was found lying on the bed of his hotel room next to a tray containing a "white powdery substance." Tests completed Friday by the Allegheny County crime lab confirmed that the substance was cocaine, Sgt. Mark Ninehouser said.
Results of toxicology tests to determine whether Lazard died of a cocaine overdose are not expected for another six to eight weeks, Ninehouser said. But he said the case is being treated as a "routine drug overdose."
The coroner will not make an official ruling on the cause of death until the toxicology reports are completed.
