Carter McIntosh, a 28-year-old banker with Jefferies, was found deceased in his Dallas apartment in late January. The cause of death, as revealed by a recently concluded autopsy, was an accidental overdose of fentanyl and cocaine. The toxic effects of these substances were cited as the cause of death in the coroner’s report.
McIntosh was discovered lifeless under a blanket on a couch in his apartment, located in the upscale Bell Knox neighborhood. Dallas Police officers had been called to the scene, where they found evidence of drug use. The investigators were looking into a potential overdose and an alleged history of illicit drug use.
McIntosh, a graduate of Seton Hall University, had not been seen for two days prior to the discovery of his body. A friend had requested a welfare check, leading to the grim discovery. McIntosh was well-regarded by his colleagues, who described him as well-liked.
Jefferies CEO Rich Handler expressed his condolences in a public statement, saying, “Our hearts grieve for Carter and our sincere condolences to his family, coworkers, and friends. Carter is missed by many at Jefferies and beyond.”
McIntosh’s work schedule was reportedly grueling, with him often working up to 100 hours a week. An insider at Jefferies described the workload as “unsustainable.” Concerns had been raised by junior bankers about the long hours being demanded of staff, particularly those on the technology and telecoms team.
Prior to his tenure at Jefferies, McIntosh had worked at Goldman Sachs and Moelis. Fentanyl, one of the drugs found in McIntosh’s system, is a potent opioid, 50 times stronger than heroin. Its odorless nature makes it difficult to detect, contributing to a rising number of overdoses in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified overdoses as the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 44.