Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Darrell Sheets was a familiar presence to viewers of Storage Wars for more than 10 years, earning the nickname ‘The Gambler’ during 13 seasons of the A&E show, where bidders compete for abandoned storage units in search of valuable finds.
Sheets appeared on the series from its early years and became one of its best-known personalities. After stepping back from full-time television, he moved to Arizona and focused on running an antiques business and living a more private life.
That period ended in tragedy on April 22, when the 67-year-old was discovered dead at his Lake Havasu City home at about 2am local time.
Police later said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and confirmed they were examining
“allegations of cyberbullying associated with this case”
after former castmate Rene Nezhoda said Sheets had been dealing with someone
“really, really tormenting him lately.”
The Mohave County Medical Examiner later ruled the manner of death a suicide, and subsequent autopsy findings reportedly showed no drugs in his system.
Now, almost three months later, a full incident report from the Lake Havasu City Police Department, obtained by USA TODAY, has provided further detail about what happened in Sheets’ final hours.
According to investigators, a note was found concealed in a closet close to where Sheets’ body was located. Officers said the message appeared to be written in unsteady handwriting and stated, in part:
“I could not take anymore the Facebook bulling.”
The report also recounts events from earlier that evening. Detectives were told by Sheets’ girlfriend that, after dinner, he had been in the garage using his phone when text messages arrived from his daughter-in-law. She said the messages accused his girlfriend of being
‘suspicious’ and ‘stealing money from’ him.
She told police that Sheets seemed
‘sad and upset’
after reading them.
His girlfriend said she left around 8pm to pick up his granddaughter for work, and when she got back, Sheets was in bed.
Later, she said he got up during the night because he could not sleep, which woke her. When she went to look for him, she told officers she saw him holding what she believed was a handgun to his head and that he sounded as though he was crying.
She said he told her to
‘go back to bed’.
According to her account, she pleaded with him while backing away, then heard a single gunshot before calling 911.
She also told detectives that Sheets had been
‘stressed out’
and was
“dealing with some issues with a male slandering his name,”
adding that a recent visit from his son had involved tension over
‘family drama’.
The investigation also included an interview with a man named in the report as the suspected online harasser. Police described him as
‘extremely uncooperative’
during questioning.
He denied being connected to Sheets’ death and said he had been
‘nowhere near’
Arizona when it happened.
He further claimed he had been receiving
‘death threats’
himself, before refusing to answer any more questions.
Police have since said the broader investigation did not lead to criminal charges, although the cyberbullying allegations were examined as part of the case.
Sheets had become a fan favorite over the years for his loud, competitive style and memorable catchphrases on Storage Wars. He appeared in 15 seasons of the series and was one of the most recognizable figures in the franchise. After leaving the show as a regular, he continued to live in Lake Havasu City and remained connected to his family and longtime fans.
In an earlier statement, A&E said:
“saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our Storage Wars family, Darrell ‘The Gambler’ Sheets,”
and added:
“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.