Report: Man charged pedestrian’s death had drugs, alcohol in system

WARREN — Russell G. Lauer III of Cortland had alcohol and Oxycodone in his blood after a crash that investigators say occurred because Lauer’s car drove several feet off of Ridge Road in February, killing jogger Brittany Szwedko, 27, of Cortland.

Because the test results could play a role in Lauer’s criminal case, prosecutors and Lauer’s attorney plan to employ toxicology experts. His trial is scheduled for Sept. 26.

Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court approved a request today to allow Atty. Brendan Keating, who represents Lauer, 43, to hire a consulting toxicology expert.

Keating said the expert will not necessarily testify at trial, but he or she will be asked to interpret toxicology results reported by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Keating needed to ask the court’s permission to hire the expert because Lauer is indigent, meaning the state is paying for his defense.

The toxicology results were reported by the Ohio State Highway Patrol in a copy of the accident report obtained by The Vindicator.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com