Actor, reality TV personality, and storage locker hunter Darrell Sheets died by an apparent suicide at his home in Lake Havasu County, Arizona, in the early hours of April 22. He was 67.
According to local law enforcement, officers responded to a 911 call about a “reported deceased individual” around 2 AM on Wednesday and later pronounced Sheets dead on scene from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Darrell’s family has been notified. This incident remains under active investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available,” a Lake Havasu City Police Department rep told Us Magazine.
Meanwhile, the corpse is being examined by the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. In the wake of the tragedy, Darrell Sheets’ Storage Wars colleague Brandi Passante, 45, posted a tribute on Instagram comprising images of the deceased over the years.
“I’m at a loss for words! I’ve known Darrel Sheets for many years. I’m just so very sorry to hear the circumstances of his passing. My heart hurts for Brandon, Zoe, and Kimber,” the ‘Young Guns’ duo member wrote.
Orange County realtor Kimber Wuerfel is Darrell Sheets’ ex-wife.
“I unfortunately lost a parent and a brother to similar situations. I would like to say to everyone, if you are struggling, if you feel hopeless or like no one cares. I assure you they do!! You are not alone. Please reach out for help. You are not taking your pain away; you are transferring it to someone else. The grief from suicide is endless. There is always help… Never suffer in silence!” Brandi concluded, while also sharing the national suicide helpline number.
Darrell Sheets’ survivors are his two children from his first marriage: son Brandon and daughter Tiffany, as well as granddaughter Zoie.
Exploring Kimber Wuerfel and Darrell Sheets’ love story
According to the OC Register, Darrell Sheets was driving in the SR-55/SR-91 interchange in Anaheim, Orange County, California, in 2012 when he stopped in the lane next to Kimber Wuerfel. They exchanged glances and after following her for a few miles, he left his number on a piece of paper against her car window.
Wuerfel called and they talked for hours before they became a couple. In fact, later that year, Sheets proposed and even relocated from San Diego to Huntington Beach to be near her. When and where they got married remains unknown. However, the pair went their separate ways in 2016.
They remained on good terms, with Darrell even calling her “my girl” in a September 2024 social media post.
According to her website, callkimber.com, Kimber Wuerfel has been a prominent figure in the Southern California real estate industry for over two decades. Her bio reads:
“Whether you’re buying your first home, looking for a beachfront property or making a real estate investment, Kimber has the experience to help you make informed decisions and achieve your goals. With her deep understanding of the real estate market, unparalleled dedication, and a fun-loving personality, Kimber is the perfect real estate agent for anyone looking to buy or sell in Orange County, CA.”
As a seasoned professional, Darrell Sheets’ ex-wife knows the A to Z of the market and her abundant knowledge, skills, insight, and expertise act as “invaluable assets for her clients.”
Wuerfel has an all-female team comprising Alana Cooper and Ines Ayala. She is a “fun-loving personality” with a reputation for being “approachable, personable, and dedicated.”
Born and raised in Southern California, Kimber previously co-owned and ran a construction company with her mother in the ‘80s and ‘90s, before turning to real estate.
Elsewhere, she supported Darrell Sheets with his antique business, Havasu Show Me Your Junk, including building his website and running his warehouse. She was also involved when her ex-husband bought and sold abandoned/ unopened storage lockers and participated in A+E Network’s reality series, Storage Wars.
Like Darrell, Kimber “The Gambler” Sheets has two children from her first marriage and multiple grandchildren. On his website, Sheets once wrote:
“I love my family. Kimber is the love of my life and my biggest supporter of this unique business that I’m in. I have two kids, Kimber has two kids, and between us, we have four beautiful grandchildren that I love being around.”
Following his divorce from Wuerfel, Darrell Sheets began dating Romney Snyder in late 2016 and was briefly engaged to her. Snyder was the founder and CEO of a horse rescue center called HiCaliber. It later closed its doors due to fraud and animal cruelty charges.
Since late 2019, Darrell had been in a relationship with Patty Rich, owner of several California-based vineyards and restaurants. They found each other after Sheets was interested in buying the boat Rich was selling. Reports suggest the couple lived together in Lake Havasu City as of 2025.
A+E Network also paid tribute to Darrell Sheets, telling the media:
“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.”
Sheets appeared in hundreds of episodes of Storage Wars since its debut in 2010. He quit in 2019 after a contract dispute and subsequent heart attack.
According to Rene Nezhoda, one of the original cast members from the show, Mr Sheets was an alleged victim of cyberbullying in the months leading up to his death.
Edited by Pallavi K