Darrell Sheets’ phone examined by police amid cyberbullying claims after death
LAKE HAVASU CITY, ARIZONA: Police have intensified their investigation into the death of 'Storage Wars' star Darrell Sheets, focusing on allegations that he faced prolonged cyberbullying before his passing at the age of 67.
Authorities are examining digital evidence to determine whether online harassment contributed to what has been ruled a self-inflicted death. The case has drawn attention following statements from his co-stars and resurfaced social media posts detailing his distress.
Darrell Sheets death investigation and cyberbullying claims
The Lake Havasu City Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit has submitted Sheets’s cellphone for forensic analysis, according to TMZ. The examination is intended to determine whether alleged online harassment played any role in his death.
Police previously stated that Sheets appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A police spokesman also confirmed, "We are aware of these cyberbullying accusations and that is a part of the active investigation."
Six weeks after his final Facebook posts, officers arrived at his Lake Havasu home at 2 AM and found his body. He had been residing in the city following his retirement and also ran an antique store called 'Havasu Show Me Your Junk.'
The late star appeared on 'Storage Wars' across 13 seasons and last featured on the series in 2023. He had also appeared as a guest on shows including 'Rachael Ray' and 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.' Sheets was also candid about his health and revealed on Instagram in 2019 that he suffered a "mild heart attack."
Statements from Sheets's co-stars have provided insight into the challenges he faced prior to his death. Hosts of the show, Laura and Dan Dotson, stated that the late star had been "terrified for his life" in the period leading up to his death on April 22.
Darrell Sheets cyberbullying claims before death
The hosts also claimed that the cyberbullying had been going on for "three years." Laura stated, "Cyberbullying is a real thing," while adding that it can affect "even strong men that you think aren't gonna get their feelings hurt."
She further said, "This made him feel less than, and it really obviously bothered him. He was terrified for his life [and] for the people around him. He didn't know why he was being targeted." Laura also claimed there were "other things" in his life that he had been dealing with leading up to his passing.
She then emphasized, "His health and certain things that might have contributed to [his death], Relationships, love interests and stuff that would go up and down, but [he] truly, truly was a wonderful, loving person who believed in God."
Dan also took to Instagram following the heartbreaking news of Sheets's death. He uploaded a throwback photo with the late star and wrote in the caption, "RIP Darrell Sheets. You're in our hearts and minds. The world is going to miss you brother."
Resurfaced posts from Sheets' Facebook page have offered a glimpse into the turmoil he was suffering before his death. Sheets claimed he had fallen victim to a "cyber bully stalker" who hid behind hundreds of "spoof numbers" as well as a variety of online aliases.
He accused the alleged stalker of impersonating him, "harassing" small businesses, and "extorted money" from several people.
His co-star Rene Nezhoda also urged law enforcement to look into the "cyberbullying." In an Instagram video, he said that "Darrell would want something positive out of this," before asserting that someone had been "really, really tormenting him lately and cyberbullying."
