Storage Wars star kills self
Balelo pleaded guilty to drug charge
Storage Wars star Mark Balelo, who was snared in a weekend drug bust, killed himself Monday by carbon monoxide poisoning, gossip site TMZ is reporting.
An employee found Balelo dead in his running car, parked in the garage of his California auction house.
Sources told TMZ the reality star was despondent after being released from jail and even asked his fiancee Elizabeth Metzidis to be by his side because he was terrified he’d hurt himself.
Balelo, 40, was arrested on charges related to possession of methamphetamine and had a court date later this month. It was just the latest in a series of setbacks that hammered Balelo’s life.
Balelo recently spent 45 days in jail for a probation violation stemming from a previous felony drug arrest, RadarOnline reports.
On December 14, 2007, he was arrested for three felonies: possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and sale or transport of controlled substance. The first two charges were eventually dismissed but on Feb. 9, 2009, he pleaded guilty to the third charge.
Metzidis recently told Radar: “I want people to know that Mark has a heart of gold. I want people to know he is a very good person who was just in a bad situation.”
Balelo told Radar in his last interview: “Friends of mine were using a hotel room that was rented in my room. They were partying in there; I didn’t do anything wrong. I wasn’t even there. It’s not a big deal. I’m just trying to do the best I can.”
Storage Wars has recently been hit with another controversy after producers locked out cast member Dave Hester, who is now suing A&E and the production company for breach of contract. He alleged the show often fakes scenes.