Mark Salling died of asphyxia by hanging, coroner rules

Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Glee alum Mark Salling died of asphyxia by hanging and his death was ruled a suicide, the Los Angeles coroner's office announced Thursday.

A full autopsy report is not yet available. A spokesman for the coroner's office, Ed Winter, declined to discuss with USA Today whether or not Salling, 35, left a suicide note.

The actor, who appeared on Glee as Noah "Puck" Puckerman between 2009 and 2015, was found dead Tuesday by a riverbed in the Sunland-Tujunga neighborhood of Los Angeles. A member of Salling's family reported the star missing at 3 a.m. before his body was discovered, Us Weekly reported.

Salling was awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in October. He faced four to seven years in prison as part of a plea bargain.

Alumni from Glee, including producer Tim Davis, expressed his love for Salling and urged for compassion over news of his death.

"Yes, he committed crimes against children. Yes, it's horrific. But #MarkSalling was a broken man, no doubt an abuse victim himself. I loved Mark, and am sad when I consider the devastation of his parents. Please withhold your cruel comments," Davis said on Twitter.