Storage Wars alum Darrell Sheets’ final text messages are providing new details into the days and week leading up to his death by suicide.
“While reviewing Darrell’s cell phone, it was clear that he was struggling with numerous things,” a police report obtained by Us Weekly reads. “This case will be closed out as it was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner, and there is no evidence or information to suggest the death was due to anything other than what was listed in the medical examiner report. Nothing further.”
News broke in April that Sheets died at the age of 67.
“We are saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our Storage Wars family, Darrell ‘The Gambler’ Sheets,” a spokesperson for A&E told Us in a statement at the time. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
While further details about Sheets’ death were not immediately revealed, the police report claimed that his girlfriend at the time said the TV star hadn’t been “able to sleep,” was stressed out and allegedly received text messages that made him “sad and upset.”
Sheets’ girlfriend further told the outlet that his son, Brandon, visited days earlier.
“Darrell has been ‘devastated’ since his son left and [was] ‘sad as hell,’” the police report claims. “Darrell went ‘down a rabbit hole.’”
In reviewing Sheets’ texts, police found messages in which he discussed his alleged sleep issues.
“Bro, I need sleep so bad,” he allegedly texted in March, alongside images of ZZZquil sleep medication.
Days later, he apparently sent another message, claiming that he went “cold turkey” on a redacted type of medication.
“I knew I had to quit or it would of been a bigger problem,” he wrote. “Still doing the paranoid … thing but I’m working on it very hard. It’s a process, and I’m trying to free up my life of stuff again. Another slow process.”
Specific details regarding Sheets’ alleged struggles were redacted in the documents.
Sheets, who is survived by his two children, was laid to rest in a celebration of life memorial last month.
“He was like a pillar. [He was] stellar, he was strong. He reminds me of his father so much,” Storage Wars costar Laura Dotson exclusively told Us of the funeral, noting Sheets’ son delivered an emotional eulogy. “He has a lot of the same anecdotes and funny things that he does. He also says, ‘That’s the wow factor, baby,’ and when he does that it sounds just like Darrell in the room.”
She added at the time, “He got to talk about him being a wonderful father, grandfather and friend, and how much Darrell really helped him through his life, becoming the man that he is, and the father that he is.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
