An Eastern student was out drinking about one hour before committing suicide on Sept. 29, a coroner’s inquest revealed Wednesday.

The death of Todd J. Bruns, 21, of Collinsville, was ruled a suicide at the inquest, and Coles County Coroner Mike Nichols said Bruns’ level of alcohol on the night of his suicide was at .20, three times the legal limit of .08.

Furthermore, Nichols said toxicology reports showed Bruns was drinking about one hour prior to his death.

Police were dispatched to Bruns’ Park Place apartment at 1639 Seventh Street at 2:17 a.m. after a pizza delivery employee discovered Bruns on his second story balcony where he had hanged himself.

Nichols pronounced Bruns dead at 3:09 a.m. at Sara Bush Lincoln Health Center.

Authorities still are unsure if a note found on top of Bruns’ computer is in relation to his suicide. Nichols said a note reading, “I’m sorry,” signed Todd was found that same night.

In addition, Nichols said Bruns had cuts and bruises that looked to be several weeks old. One witness knew of the scrapes but was “very reserved” in discussing the topic, Nichols said.

Bruns, who was a junior career and technical information major, transferred to Eastern last year from McKendree College in Lebanon. At Eastern, Bruns played on a university soccer club.

Bruns’ roommate, Michael Mulvey, a senior physical education major, said he did not know Bruns was suffering from any emotional problems and thought of Bruns as an outgoing person.