Storage Wars: Mark Balelo Commits Suicide Days After Drug Arrest
Storage Wars is in the news again, but this time it isn’t legal threats about the veracity of this ostensibly contrived show. This time, in sad news, one of its cast has committed suicide following an arrest for drug offenses.
Balelo, 54, an auction house owner, was one of the show’s featured buyers seasons two and three.
According to TMZ.com, Balelo was arrested Saturday Feb 9 on drug offenses and he was found dead Monday 11.
He reportedly asked his financee, Elizabeth Metzidis, to meet him upon his release because he was distraught and felt he might hurt himself. They met at his office on Sunday, spoke for a few hours, and he took a nap, after which he appeared to have calmed down.
Left alone Sunday evening, he took his own life by carbon monoxide poisoning inside his car that was parked and running in the garage at his auction house in Simi Valley, California.
Law enforcement sources say an autopsy will be conducted later today.
Subsequent reports claim Balelo was probably about to be deported for prior offenses. National Enquirer says Balelo “had a history of convictions for weapons and drug offenses.” Metzidis said this in January: “Mark’s legal right to remain in the United States is on the line. The thought that he could be taken at any moment and thrown on a plane and deported is very upsetting to him.”