The reality star says Sheets “took his own life” and was “tormented” by a cyberbully before his death
René Nezhoda is speaking out following the death of his Storage Wars costar Darrell Sheets, who was found dead at age 67 in Lake Havasu City from an apparent suicide on Wednesday, April 22.
In an Instagram video shared after the news broke, Nezhoda reflected on their relationship, clarifying that their on-screen rivalry didn’t reflect their real-life bond.
“This was not an easy video to shoot. Unfortunately, Darrell Sheets took his own life. So he passed away,” Nezhoda began. “I know a lot of you guys think we hated each other because we competed a lot on the show. And you know, we had our moments. We had our run-ins because we were both competitors, right? We were both competitors with the biggest threat out there.”
Despite their competitive natures, he emphasized they maintained a friendship over the years.
“So deep down me and Darrell were friends, we talked every now and then,” he explained. “He was a very hard worker that cared more than anyone I’ve ever met about their family, about his son, about Zoe [his granddaughter], pretty much [all the] people in his life.”
Nezhoda also alleged that Sheets had been dealing with cyberbullying prior to his death and used the moment to call for accountability.
“Rest in peace Darrell Sheets. Also I know Darrell would want something positive out of this, so he had a guy that [was] really really tormenting him lately. Cyberbullying,” he said.
He went on to stress that viewers don’t truly know reality stars beyond what’s shown on screen.
“Guys, just because you watch us on television, doesn’t mean you know us,” Nezhoda continued. “It doesn’t mean you know what we’re about. Also, it doesn’t entitle you to bully somebody. That’s not [just] us, that’s anybody. That’s any athlete. You shouldn’t cyberbully at all.”
Nezhoda then broadened his message, urging people to intervene when they see harmful behavior.
“As a matter of fact, if you have somebody in your life that thinks it’s funny to cyberbully other people, may that be a celebrity, athlete or little girl at school… slap ’em in the back of the head. Make them become a better human being.”
He went on to emphasize the unseen struggles people may face and “highly” encouraged authorities to investigate.
“You never know what demons somebody faces and what they go through and what you might push them through,” he concluded. “Darrell has been posting a lot about the guy that has been cyberbullying and torturing him and I really hope they look into that guy and that’s just not a pass. It’s just not right guys. Be better.”
Nezhoda’s post comes hours after news broke that Sheets’ body was discovered, according to local authorities.
In a press release, the Lake Havasu City Police Department said officers responded to “a reported deceased individual” around 2 a.m. local time.
“Upon arrival, officers located a male subject who suffered from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,” the release stated. “The male was pronounced deceased on scene, and the Lake Havasu City Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit was notified and responded to the scene to assume the investigation.”
“The body was ultimately turned over to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s office for further investigation. The male subject has been identified as Darrell Sheets, a 67-year-old resident of Lake Havasu City, and Darrell’s family has been notified.”
Authorities said the incident remains under active investigation and asked anyone with information to contact the Lake Havasu City Police Department at 928-855-1171.
Sheets rose to fame on A&E’s Storage Wars, which follows professional buyers competing to bid on abandoned storage lockers. In California, if rent on a storage locker isn’t paid for three months, the contents can be sold by an auctioneer.
Known as “the Gambler,” Sheets frequently appeared on the series alongside his son Brandon and became a fan favorite for his high-risk, high-reward bidding style. Over the course of his career, he scored several major finds, including four Picassos and what has been described as the world’s most valuable comic book collection.
A spokesperson for A&E said in a statement, “We are saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our Storage Wars family, Darrell ‘The Gambler’ Sheets. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
In 2019, Sheets revealed in an Instagram post that he had been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack.
“Well here we go I wasn’t going to say anything, but you all have been the greatest friends and fans. I’ve been very sick for 3 months and two nights ago I had a mild heart attack, found out I have congestive heart failure and a severe issue going on with my lung,” he wrote at the time, noting that he was set to undergo surgery.
“All your prayers would be deeply appreciated thank you for being there for me it’s been a great ride #storagewars #Romney has been by my side through all of this she is a good women and I love her,” he added of his then-fiancé Romney Snyder.
Sheets retired from Storage Wars in 2023 and later opened an antique shop in Arizona called Havasu Show Me Your Junk.
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