CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have ruled that the death of an Iowa man acquitted in the slaying of a 2-year-old girl in 2000 was an accident. The Sioux City Journal reports that the Iowa medical examiner’s office says Jesse Wendelsdorf, of Cherokee, died of ethylene glycol poisoning. The chemical is the primary ingredient in antifreeze.

Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent Darrell Simmons says antifreeze was found near Wendelsdorf when he was found March 29. He died two days later at a Sioux City hospital. Simmons told the newspaper it’s nearly impossible to say whether Wendelsdorf wanted to kill himself – he left no note. Simmons says some people drink antifreeze to get drunk.

Wendelsdorf was acquitted of murder and sexual abuse charges in the January 2000 death of his girlfriend’s daughter.