UPDATE, OCTOBER 14: Former child Matthew Mindler committed suicide using sodium nitrate that he ordered from Amazon.com, his mother said today.
Mindler purchased the product for $ 15. The Lancaster County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that he died by suicide from sodium nitrate toxicity.
Sodium nitrate is used to preserve food and kills by causing low blood pressure and limiting oxygen flow to the body.
Monica Mindler said she discovered the Amazon connection while looking at her son’s internet search history after his death. The actor searched for information on purchasing sodium nitrate and how it was used to end life without pain. He ordered enough to kill four people, he said.
Monica Mindler said she wanted to warn other families who might be unaware of the dangers of the substance.
Amazon has yet to comment.
UPDATED with cause of death: Former child star Matthew Mindler, who disappeared from his rural campus at Millersville University in Pennsylvania earlier this week, has been confirmed dead.
The Lancaster County (PA) Coroner’s Office confirmed Monday that the manner of death was by suicide, Lancaster Online news site reported. A toxicology report is pending.
The university confirmed his death on Saturday with an announcement to the student body. “It is with a heavy heart that I report the death of Matthew Mindler, 19, of Hellertown, Pennsylvania, a freshman at Millersville University.
“A search for Matthew had been conducted since Thursday, after he was reported missing. Matthew was found deceased this morning, Saturday, August 28, in Manor Township, near campus. “
Mindler co-starred with Paul Rudd in 2011 My idiot brother and he had just started his first year. He was reported missing on Wednesday, August 25, according to a press release from the University of Millersville Police Department.
His family alerted authorities that he had left his bedroom and did not return to his room or class the next day.
Mindler’s last acting role was the 2016 TV movie, Chad: an American boy.
The University of Millersville reported that Mindler disappeared Tuesday night. “He was last seen walking from his residence, West Villages to the Centennial Dr. parking lot at 8:11 pm Tuesday night. He was wearing a white University of Millersville hoodie with black stripes on the arm, a black backpack, jeans, and white sneakers. Matt attended classes on Monday and Tuesday, but he did not attend yesterday or this morning, ”said campus police.