matthew mindler's mother says he struggled with extreme anxiety for years before killing himself after starting at millersville university
The mother of child actor Matthew Mindler has said he struggled with severe anxiety for years, but seemed to be settled in during his first week at university.
Mindler was declared dead on Saturday, and the cause ruled as suicide by authorities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
His mother Monica has now spoken out about her son's death, saying that Matthew suffered from 'crippling anxiety', according to TMZ on Tuesday.
'We appreciate the support, concern and outpouring of prayers from Millersville University, the students and the community,' Monica Mindler added. 'My heart is crushed and my mind cannot yet fathom this reality.'
Sources with the Lancaster County Coroner's Office confirmed to TMZ on Monday that the official cause of Mindler's death at 19 will be determined by toxicology tests.
Mindler, who appeared in the 2011 Paul Rudd film Our Idiot Brother, was a student at Millersville, Pennsylvania's Millersville University.
Authorities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania ruled the death of one-time child actor Matthew Mindler a suicide. His mother has spoken of how he suffered from severe anxiety
Monica Mindler , Matthew's mother, has now spoken out about her son's death, saying that Matthew suffered from 'crippling anxiety', according to TMZ on Tuesday
Officials with the university had confirmed Mindler's passing Saturday, in saying he was found dead in nearby Manor Township. He had last been seen Tuesday and reported missing the following day.
His mother told the news outlet that he had kept in constant contact with him during his first days at the college, but that she lost contact with him on Tuesday night.
She said he had been busy during his first days on campus, saying that he had med with an adiser about starting a campus computer programming club.
He also had an upcoming job interview with the IT department, Monica told TMZ, and said he was making friends.
The pair last exchanged text messages on Thursday, she said, and she told him that she would pick him up on Friday so he he could be at home to relax for a few days.
But when she texted him on Wednesday morning, the messages went through as texts instead of iMessages, suggesting his phone was off or unreachable.
When she became worried about her son, Monica told the news outlet that she contacted the university for a wellness check, and spoke to his roomate on Wednesday. She was told no one had seen her son and that people were worried.
By Thursday, she drove to the campus and got the police involved in the search. On Saturday, he was found dead near the campus.
'It is with a grieving heart that I let you know of the death of 19-year-old Matthew Mindler from Hellertown, Pennsylvania, a first-year student at Millersville University,' the statement obtained by TMZ read.
'A search had been underway for Matthew since Thursday, after he was reported missing. Matthew was found deceased this morning, Saturday, August 28, in Manor Township near campus.'
According to the Millersville University police, Mindler, a freshman, was last seen on campus on Tuesday night after attending classes Monday and Tuesday. He was reported as missing the following night on Wednesday, after failing to return to his dormitory room and skipping classes.
The Millersville University Police released a screenshot from security footage, showing Mindler in a hallway in the West Villages residence hall on Tuesday night
Millersville University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Millersville, Pennsylvania
Police wrote in an Instagram post that Mindler was spotted walking from the West Villages residence hall toward the Centennial Driver parking lot at around 8:11 p.m. on Tuesday.
As seen in a screenshot from security video, the student was wearing a white Millersville University hooded sweatshirt with black stripes on the arm, a black face mask, dark-colored jeans and sneakers. He was carrying a black backpack.
Campus police filed a missing person report with the National Crime Information Center on Thursday.
Mindler's IMDB page lists eight acting credits in films and television shows, including in the 2013 short Frequency, which directed by his older brother, cinematographer Derek Mindler.
Mindler's IMDB page lists eight acting credits in films and television shows. He is pictured in 2011 attending the Los Angeles premiere of Our Idiot Brother
Mindler is pictured in a scene with Emily Mortimer, who played his mother in Our Idiot Brother
His biggest role to date was in Our Idiot Brother, which follows Rudd's character, an idealistic farmer who upends the lives of his three sisters, played by Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel and Emily Mortimer.
Mindler portrayed Mortimer's son, River.
Midler has not acted since 2016, when he appeared in the TV movie Chad: An American Boy.
Millersville University President Daniel Wubah sent a letter to the students addressing Mindler's disappearance, reported WGAL.
'Matt's health and safety are paramount and I know our thoughts are with him, his family and friends,' Wubah wrote in part. 'Our police department is continuing efforts to locate Matt in conjunction with regional law enforcement agencies. They are following every lead and appreciate your attention to this effort.'
For confidential support in the UK - call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
For confidential support in the UK - call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.For confidential support in the US - call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255.
For confidential support in the US - call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255.