Mark Salling has died of an apparent suicide, just weeks before he was due to be sentenced on child pornography charges.
The body of the Glee star was found near his home in Sunland just before 9am on Tuesday.
Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told to DailyMail.com that Salling was pronounced dead at the scene at 9am.
'I heard it was hanging,' said Winter, who later noted that 'the investigation is ongoing and a full autopsy is pending.'
Winter said the autopsy would take place within the next two days.
Salling was just six weeks away from a sentencing hearing in his case, where he faced four to seven years in prison after entering a guilty plea to a federal charge of possessing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors.
It was revealed in court documents that some of the images Salling possessed featured children as young as three.
At the time of the hearing, he told the judge he was on medication for depression.
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Mark Salling (pictured as he arrived for a court appearance in 2016 for child porn charges) has died of an apparent suicide
The disgraced actor's body is removed from the scene by coroners and members of the LAPD
Half a dozen officers assisted as the body was put inside the coroner's van. The official cause of death has not yet been revealed but it is believed the disgraced star hanged himself
The actor's body was found in the river bed, through a wooded area close to a little league baseball field in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday. Pictured, police tape ropes of the scene where Salling was found
The spot where Salling, who played Noah 'Puck' Puckerman in the hit musical-comedy 'Glee,' was found dead in a remote area of Big Tujunga Canyon
Salling's black Nissan Infiniti was parked at the side of the road, near the riverbed where he was found
'I can confirm that Mark Salling passed away early this morning,' his lawyer Michael Proctor said in a statement.
'Mark was a gentle and loving person, a person of great creativity, who was doing his best to atone for some serious mistakes and errors of judgment. He is survived by his mother and father, and his brother. The Salling family appreciates the support they have been receiving and asks for their privacy to be respected.'
Salling was awaiting sentencing after entering a guilty plea to possession of child pornography.
Salling's body was discovered around 8.50am near Big Tujunga Creek, off the Big Tujunga Canyon Road according to Detective Megan Anguilar of the LAPD.
A law enforcement source said the body was found in a shallow riverbed and that the case was being investigated as a suicide.
TMZ was the first to report the news of Salling's death.
His body has since been removed from he scene while officials carry out their investigation. His black, Nissan Infiniti remains parked at the side of the road, surrounded by police cruisers.
Salling was photographed wearing the same clothes he wore for weeks back in October, while he was out buying cigarettes and soda at his local 7-11 store
Authorities were reportedly tipped off by one of Salling's ex-girlfriends and he was arrested in December 2015 before being released on $20,000 bail (Pictured, left to right: Max Adler as Dave (center) and Salling as Puck on Glee in March 2015)
Matthew Morrison, (center) who starred as Will Schuester in Glee, shared a photo of himself with Salling (right) and Cory Monteith (left) who died from a drugs overdose. He captioned the photo with three emoji faces; two angels - one for Salling and one for Monteith - and a sad face for himself
Tim Davis, a vocal contractor and vocal arranger for Glee, tweeted that he 'loved Mark' and was 'sad' about his death
Jane Lynch, who played Sue Sylvester, then retweeted his second message, saying that Salling's suicide did not minimize his crimes, but implored people to 'stop adding to (Sallings') family's pain'
Paris Barclay, a Glee producer, added: 'It's a painful loss, again. Two young actors, lost too soon. RIP #marksalling'
Meanwhile the LAPD and volunteers from the Mayor's Crisis Response Team, were spotted at his Sunland home where he'd been living before his death.
The three ladies, wearing light blue t-shirts bearing the team's logo, were escorted into the property by the female officer and let inside by an occupant of the home.
According to the CRT website, the volunteers 'provide immediate on-scene crisis intervention, act as a liaison between the victim and emergency personnel and give referrals to victims and their families affected by a death, a violent crime or other traumatic incidents.
'These incidents include homicides, suicides, traffic fatalities, officer involved shooting, death notification, infant deaths, natural deaths and multi-casualty incidents.'
The body of Mark Salling is carried from a dry river bed near Sunland, wrapped in a yellow carry case
After being carried through the bushes, the corpse is placed on a stretcher
The body and stretcher was then covered in an LA County Coroner bag
Half a dozen officers assisted as the body was wheeled round to the coroner's van
Neighbors said they had seen Salling come and go in recent weeks, making trips to a local 7/11 for groceries.
The actor made a suicide attempt last summer, when he cut both of his wrists, according to a report.
Salling is said to have 'freaked out' after hurting himself on August 22.
He was taken to a local hospital after paramedics treated him in his Los Angeles home.
The actor was reportedly taken to be treated for psychological problems after he recovered.
Salling's career came crashing down in 2015 after he was arrested for possession of child porn.
Investigators found he 'downloaded thousands of images of child pornography' between April and December 2015.
Salling's car remains parked just in front of the van while police investigate the scene
The coroners van which will transport Salling's body to the coroner's office. The actor took his own life while awaiting sentencing on child pornography charges
The papers state he used software to mask his IP address, but twice showed some of his collection to an adult woman, who ultimately reported him to police.
Following the tip-off, Salling was arrested at his home in Sunland, California, where police found a cache of explicit images on his computer depicting children as young as 10 in sexual situations. They later discovered more than 50,000 photos and videos on his laptop and another 4,000 on a flash drive.
The actor was originally facing a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars after being charged with two counts of child pornography last year.
Former Glee star Mark Salling in court in December where he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. It's the last time he would be seen in public
Prosecutors and Salling (arriving at court in December) agreed to ask a judge to sentence the actor to between four to seven years in prison
Authorities were reportedly tipped off by one of Salling's ex-girlfriends and he was arrested in December 2015 (pictured ducking down in the passenger seat of a car as he leaves jail after being arrested for possession of child pornography)
The 35-year-old would also have been required to register as a sex offender, pay restitution and abide by residency restrictions.
That would have meant he was banned from coming within 100 feet of schoolyards, parks, public swimming pools, playgrounds and video arcade venues; and cannot speak to children under the age of 18 without their parents or guardians present.
Authorities were reportedly tipped off by one of Salling's ex-girlfriends and he was arrested in December 2015 before being released on $20,000 bail.
Lieutenant Andrea Grossman, commander of the LAPD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, said at the time: 'It doesn't matter who you are or what you do, if you hurt a child you will be held accountable.'
She added: 'These images are more than photographs, they are child abuse.'
He is the second major actor from the popular series to have died at a young age.
His costar Cory Monteith died from a drug overdose in his Vancouver hotel room in March 2013. The actor, who had a history of substance abuse as a teen, was just 31 years old.
the LAPD and volunteers from the Mayor's Crisis Response Team, were spotted at his Sunland home where he'd been living before his death (pictured)
The modest one-storey property, in Sunland, California, where Salling lived after his arrest
Police outside the home of former Glee star Mark Salling in Sunland, California
Salling reportedly hanged himself next to the creek, adjacent to a little league baseball field
The entrance to the field, which is close to Big Tujunga Creek which runs through LA
The coroner found he died of a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol, and ruled that his death was an 'accidental overdose'.
The actor's death has been met with a mixed response on social media with some expressing sadness at his loss, and others celebrating the death of someone convicted of possessing child porn.
Matthew Morrison, who starred as Will Schuester in Glee, shared a photo of himself with Salling and Monteith, and captioned the photo with three emoji faces; a sad face for himself, an angel for Monteith and, rather surprisingly, an angel for Salling.
Tim Davis, a vocal contractor and vocal arranger for Glee, tweeted that he 'loved Mark' and was 'sad' about his death.
Actress Jane Lynch, who played Sue Sylvester in the series, then retweeted his second message, which explained that Salling's suicide did not 'minimize his crimes', but implored people to 'stop adding to (Sallings') family's pain'.
She told later TMZ 'it's very said, very tragic' when asked about his death.
When asked how she'd remember her costar, she replied: 'As the guy who made that really sweet video at the beginning of Glee when he was so happy to be a part of this program. It's tragic and I'm broken hearted over it.'
Glee producer Paris Barclay added: 'It's a painful loss, again. Two young actors, lost too soon. RIP #marksalling.'
Salling was previously sued by his ex-girlfriend Roxanne Gorzela for sexual battery.
Gorzela claimed that he forced her to have unprotected sex with him and later, when she confronted him over his actions, Salling allegedly pushed her to the ground and caused injury to her knees.
It was reported that the case was settled midway through trial after Gorzela dropped the sexual battery claim.
Salling was previously sued by his ex-girlfriend Roxanne Gorzela (right) for sexual battery
In 2011, he ended his fling with Gorzela before their legal issues began. In 2014 he was linked to another co-star Lea Michele (pictured with him in 2009)
In 2008 he was then in a relationship with co-star Naya Rivera, who plays Santana Lopez. In 2010 the relationship soured, and she was accused of egging his house and keying his Lexus in a jealous rage
However the relationship never flourished. More recently he dated 19-year-old Big Time Rush actress Denyse Tontz, but the two broke up some time last year
Salling admitted to negligently causing her to fall and injure herself. She is not believed to have been the woman who tipped off the authorities.
The pair settled the case for a reported $2.7million when Salling admitted to causing her to fall and injure herself through negligence.
Salling shot to fame playing Noah 'Puck' Puckerman in the hit FOX series Glee. He first appeared in 2008 and was a regular until season five.
Salling was born in Dallas, Texas, and was reportedly home-schooled in a 'strict Christian home'.
He attended Providence Christian School and Our Redeemer Lutheran elementary schools, and after graduating from a high school, he travelled to California and attended Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music in Pasadena, California and began studying guitar. He gave guitar lessons to make a living.
His first acting role was in Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering (1996) with Naomi Watts. He also starred in The Graveyard in 2006.
Salling (right, in 2009) is the second major actor from Glee to have died at a young age. His costar Cory Monteith (left) died from a drugs overdose in his Vancouver hotel room in March 2013
The actor (pictured, left and right, on Glee) reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in October. The agreement states a search warrant found more than 50,000 images of child porn on Salling's computer and a thumb drive downloaded between April 2015 and December 2015
The Texas native has been romantically linked to many celebrities, including some of his co-stars on the musical show.
In 2008, he dated former The Hills star Audrina Partridge, but the relationship appeared to die out.
He was then in a relationship with co-star Naya Rivera, who plays Santana Lopez. In 2010 the relationship soured, and she was accused of egging his house and keying his Lexus in a jealous rage.
In 2011, he ended his fling with Gorzela before their legal issues began. In 2014 he was spotted at Cochella music festival with another co-star Lea Michele.
However the relationship never flourished. More recently he dated 19-year-old Big Time Rush actress Denyse Tontz, but the two broke up some time last year.
If you are concerned about any issues involving suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mark Salling (pictured in 2011) starred in the television musical series Glee for six years
US actor Mark Salling, known for his role in the TV series Glee, has been found dead near his Los Angeles home, his lawyer confirmed to the BBC.
US media reports suggest he may have taken his own life.
The 35-year-old was expected to get between four and seven years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sex abuse images. His sentencing was due on 7 March.
Salling played footballer Noah "Puck" Puckerman on Glee from 2009 to 2015.
He entered into a plea deal last October, avoiding a lengthier prison sentence of up to 20 years.
He was arrested in 2015 after a tip-off that he was in possession of images of children being sexually abused.
Investigators ultimately found tens of thousands of abuse images on his laptop and hard drive.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Los Angeles police are yet to confirm Salling's cause of death
Photographs in US media suggest the former television star's body was found in woodland near to where he lived in Sunland, Los Angeles.
Salling's lawyer, Michael J Proctor, said in a statement: "I can confirm that Mark Salling passed away early this morning. Mark was a gentle and loving person, a person of great creativity, who was doing his best to atone for some serious mistakes and errors of judgement.
"He is survived by his mother and father, and his brother. The Salling family appreciates the support they have been receiving and asks for their privacy to be respected."
His former co-stars have reacted to the news of his death.
Matthew Morrison, who played singing teacher Mr Shuester in the show, posted a photograph of the pair alongside actor Cory Monteith, who died in 2013 died from an overdose, with two angel motifs.
Actor Jane Lynch told celebrity news website TMZ that his death was "sad and very tragic", and said she would remember him his early days on the show.
Television Glee actor Mark Salling found dead aged 35 Salling, who played Puck on the hit series, was facing up to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of child abuse images Mark Salling’s cause of death has not yet been verified. Photograph: Danny Moloshok/Reuters
Mark Salling, the actor best known for his role in Glee, has died at the age of 35.
His attorney confirmed the news in a statement. The cause of death has not yet been verified.
“Mark was a gentle and loving person, a person of great creativity, who was doing his best to atone for some serious mistakes and errors of judgment,” Salling’s lawyer, Michael Proctor, said. “The Salling family appreciates the support they have been receiving and asks for their privacy to be respected.”
Salling pleaded guilty last October to possession of child abuse images, and his sentencing was scheduled for 7 March. After his arrest in December 2015, Salling, best known for playing Noah Puckerman on the hit TV series, was indicted in May 2016 after a search warrant led to the discovery of over 50,000 images on his computer and flashdrive.
In a plea agreement reached with prosecutors, Salling was to face four to seven years in prison to avoid a maximum sentence of 20 years. Salling was ordered to pay each of his victims $50,000 and register as a sex offender. In March, Salling reached a separate $2.7m settlement with a woman who sued him for sexual battery.
According to court documents circulated at the time Salling agreed his plea bargain, he said in court: “I am pleading guilty because I am guilty of the charges and wish to take advantage of the promises set forth in this agreement, and not for any other reason.”
SHAMED Glee star Mark Salling was found hanged in woods weeks before he was due to be jailed for possession of 50,000 child abuse images, reports claim.
The actor, 35, who played Noah "Puck" Puckerman in the TV series, could have been dead for some time before his body was found near an LA baseball field, it has emerged.
AP:Associated Press Glee star Mark Salling, 35, who played Noah 'Puck' Puckerman in the TV series, was found hanged, according to reports in the US
His co-stars paid tribute to the fallen actor with Tim Davis, the show's former vocal coordinator, tweeting: "Having compassion for #MarkSalling in no way minimises his crimes, nor does it minimise the pain and devastation of the victims of those crimes."
He added: "I loved Mark and am sad when I consider the devastation of his parents."
Jane Lynch, who played head cheer coach Sue Sylvester, said she would remember him as "the guy who made that really sweet video in the beginning of Glee when he was so happy to be a part of this group".
In a haunting reminder that Salling is not the first Glee star to die at a young age, Matthew Morrison posted a photo of himself with Salling and Cory Monteith, who died in 2013.
Let me be clear. Having compassion for #MarkSalling in no way minimizes his crimes, nor does it minimize the pain and devastation of the victims of those crimes. I'm just saying stop adding to his family's pain. This was their son. If you're without sin, feel free to cast stones. — Tim Davis (@loudmouthmuch) January 30, 2018
BackGrid Salling photographed here wearing the same clothes he wore for weeks while he was out buying cigarettes and a drink
Instar Images His body was found in a field near his home - the cause of death has not been confirmed
Salling's lawyer, Michael J. Proctor, confirmed the death of the actor - who was reportedly found in a field close to his home after a "welfare check" 911 call at 8.50am.
TMZ reported that a family member reported Salling missing at 3am on Tuesday.
In a statement his family said: "Mark was a gentle and loving person, a person of great creativity, who was doing his best to atone for some serious mistake and errors of judgement.
"He is survived by his mother and father, and brother. The Salling family appreciates the support they have been receiving and asks for their privacy to be respected."
Rex Features Salling, 35, starred in all six seasons of Glee as Noah 'Puck' Puckerman
Instar Images Police were called at about 8.50am yesterday and found Salling dead
Splash News The spot where the body of Salling was found next to a creek in Sun Valley, California
TMZ reports he was found hanged, but the LADP was unable to confirm the cause of death when contacted by the Sun Online yesterday evening.
Salling pleaded guilty to possession of child abuse images in October last year and was awaiting sentencing, after authorities were reportedly tipped off by an ex-girlfriend.
As part of his plea he agreed to serve between four and seven years in prison. He would also have been required to register as a sex offender.
Salling appeared in all six seasons of the hit Glee, which ended in 2015.
Getty Images - Getty Salling arriving for a court appearance in 2016
Splash News Salling's Los Angeles home - he was found dead nearby, reports say
The Mega Agency Police vehicles near to where Salling's body was reportedly found
Getty Images - Getty Salling has died of an apparent suicide, TMZ reports
It was reported he had cut both his wrists in a suicide attempt a month-and-a-half before he made the plea deal.
According to TMZ he "freaked out" and called for his roommate, who called the emergency services.
He was rushed to hospital and taken to a rehab facility a few days later.
He was arrested in December 2015 and was found to have downloaded more than 50,000 images and videos of child abuse to his computer and another 4,000 on his flash drive.
Glee star Mark Salling had admitted to possessing child abuse images
Splash News Salling had pleaded guilty in October last year to possession of the images
Rex Features Salling and his Glee co-stars - the hit TV ran for six seasons
Getty Images - Getty He pleaded guilty to possession of child abuse images in October last year and was awaiting sentencing
Getty Images - Getty Salling with Glee co-stars - Cory Monteith, second left, died in 2013
According to court documents that circulated last year, Salling stated: “I am pleading guilty because I am guilty of the charges and wish to take advantage of the promises set forth in this agreement, and not for any other reason.”
The 35-year-old was previously sued by a woman for sexual battery.
She claimed Salling forced her to have unprotected sex with him. The pair settled the case for a reported $2.7 million.
Salling's net worth was estimated at $500,000, and he lived in Los Angeles.
He was born in Dallas, Texas, and reportedly home schooled in a "strict Christian home".
Late actor Mark Salling, who pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse images, as Puck in Glee with cover of Sweet Caroline
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He went to Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music in Pasadena, California.
During his time on Glee, his performances led to Salling being nominated for a Teen Choice Award for male Breakout Star.
As a musician, he has released two albums, Smoke Signals in 2008 and Pipe Dreams in 2010.
Salling's Glee co-star Cory Monteith died aged 31 in 2013.
The coroner found he died of a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol, and ruled that his death was an "accidental overdose".
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123 or 020 7734 2800.
