Police records newly obtained by TMZ show investigators examined whether Storage Wars star Darrell Sheets had been harassed online before his death, but the inquiry ended with no criminal charges.
Sheets, 67, died by suicide in April. Afterward, fellow Storage Wars personality Rene Nezhoda claimed Sheets had been subjected to an ongoing cyberbullying campaign. The newly released records offer the clearest look so far at how authorities pursued those claims.
According to the documents, detectives in Arizona reviewed Sheets’ phone, spoke with witnesses and followed up on unusual messages and phone calls that surfaced after his death. Investigators also focused on a person accused of harassing Sheets before he died. This comes as Darrell's friends and family recently gathered for a celebration of his life in California.
That person denied cyberbullying Sheets, according to the records. Police said the individual also denied going inside Sheets’ home and described their relationship with him as one that had deteriorated after a falling out. But detectives said the person would not answer several questions, including where they were when Sheets died, citing alleged death threats they had received.
In the report, detectives described the person as "completely uncooperative."
The police file also referenced a handwritten note found near Sheets’ body. Investigators said the note appeared to blame "Facebook bulling" before his death, apparently meaning "Facebook bullying."
Detectives also reviewed several strange communications tied to the case. One text message read, "We having fun yet?" Authorities also examined a letter claiming Sheets had been bombarded with hundreds of phone calls from people around the world throughout the day.
In one instance described in the report, Sheets allegedly answered a call and heard someone whisper, "50 thousand dollars."
Despite the unusual material gathered during the investigation, prosecutors ultimately declined to file charges. The Lake Havasu City Attorney’s Office determined the case could not proceed because Sheets was deceased and unable to testify, according to TMZ.
Sheets became known to viewers as one of the original buyers on Storage Wars, the A&E reality series following bidders who compete for abandoned storage lockers.
His death prompted tributes from fans and renewed attention on the pressures faced by public figures online.
Police began reviewing the circumstances after Nezhoda publicly alleged Sheets had been targeted. The records show investigators spent months examining whether the alleged harassment rose to the level of a prosecutable crime.
The case is now closed without charges.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
THEO DÕI CHÚNG TÔI TRÊN FACEBOOK
