Monica Mindler, the mother of actor Matthew Mindler, researched her son’s internet history after her son’s death and what she found was disturbing. It seems that he was searching for sodium nitrate. An article published in the National Library of Medicine indicates that Matthew Mindler is one of many people who has searched for sodium nitrate for the purpose of suicide.
Sodium nitrite is an oxidizing agent capable of producing profound methemoglobinemia (elevated methemoglobin in the blood). Large quantities of sodium nitrite can be purchased online, and recent literature has identified several cases of intentional self-poisoning, including multiple cases of mortality. This has raised concern that intentional sodium nitrite poisoning and resultant severe methemoglobinemia may be increasing in incidence and could represent a substantial public health threat. Nitrates are converted to Nitrites and the difference between the two is largely irrelevant.
That information is brought to light in an article titled, “Rising incidence and high mortality in intentional sodium nitrite exposures reported to US poison centers” by authors Sean McCann, Marit Tweet and Michael Wahl. The authors discovered that the incidence of intentional self-poisoning with sodium nitrite has been increasing since 2017. Many of these exposures result in toxicity requiring antidotal therapy, and a high mortality rate was observed. Recent literature indicates that this trend may be the result of ready access to this poison through online vendors combined with recommendations shared in online communities that sodium nitrite be used as an effective method of suicide.
Matthew Mindler purchased sodium nitrate on Amazon for $15. Monica Mindler has said that she shared her discovery in order to warn the parents of other children. She had no indication that her son was suicidal. Matthew Mindler was only 19 years old when he died. He was best known for his role alongside Paul Rudd in “Our Idiot Brother.” He was attending Millersville University in Pennsylvania and he was found dead near his campus after being reported missing. He never returned to his dorm room and calls went unanswered from friends and family. Campus surveillance footage showed him wearing a white hoodie with black stripes, jeans, sneakers, and a hat covering his face. His body was located in a wooded area after a massive search.
I always wonder what it was like for people who commit suicide because the pain must be excruciating to get to that point
Why are so many people looking for a cheap way to kill themselves? Something is wrong with the mental health in this country.
He was a really cute guy and at 19 he had his whole life ahead of him. Sometimes we look at others, especially when they are attractive and successful and think they have everything. It’s so sad that he got to such a low point that he took his life.