Storage Wars' Rene Nezhoda reveals Darrell Sheets 'withdrew' from social media before death
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
LAKE HAVASU CITY, ARIZONA: 'Storage Wars' cast member Rene Nezhoda has shared more about the online harassment he says Darrell Sheets dealt with before his unexpected death. Nezhoda explained that the harassment escalated beyond typical trolling.
He claimed an individual posed as Sheets through calls, messages, emails, and even fake websites, while also threatening to destroy his reputation.
He also referenced Sheets’ final Facebook activity, saying the reality star appeared to pull away from social media as the situation continued. Local police confirmed on Wednesday, April 22, that Sheets had died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Rene Nezhoda details alleged cyberbullying Darrell Sheets endured in final weeks
Nezhoda went on to say, “He even said, I think on March 9, ‘Hey guys, I’m happy. Everything is great. If anything happens to me, look at these people. These are the people.’ And then he posted a bunch of messages (about it). And a month later, we find him dead... I am 50/50, if he even did that (to himself). I don’t know," as per Us Weekly.
Emphasizing how serious the situation had become, Nezhoda added, “He flat out said, 'I'm gonna ruin you.' I mean, all you have to do is go to Darrell's last few messages on Facebook.” He also noted how deeply the experience affected Sheets, explaining that “he kind of withdrew from social media.”
Looking back, Nezhoda admitted he may not have fully understood the extent of what was happening at the time. “He did tell me that this person is really doing a lot of stuff, but I just didn't take it as seriously, or was as concerned, because it's just part of it,” he said.
Reflecting more broadly, he added, “You don’t know what’s in someone’s head and what pushed them over the edge. I’m not saying he did it because of the cyberbullying. But if you’re down and out and somebody steps on your throat for fun or because they think they’re entitled to do that because you’re famous... I don’t think that helps the situation.”
Darrell Sheets raised concerns about hacking before his death
In a Facebook post shared on March 9, Sheets said he had been “hacked by a very evil person.” He explained that he did not write some posts seen on his account and were likely shared by someone else.
Officials later confirmed that Sheets was found dead in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. His body was later taken to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. A spokesperson for the Lake Havasu City Police Department said they are aware of the cyberbullying claims and that it is part of the ongoing investigation.
Sheets also said the people behind the alleged harassment had “ruined” him. “People are showing up to my work and wanting to harm me. The police are aware of this, but (their) hands are tied because Facebook allows this, and it is very bad,” he wrote,
