Storage Wars Stars Who Died Tragically — And What Really Happened Off-Camera
Two familiar faces from A&E's long-running reality hit Storage Wars have died in the past decade, both under tragic circumstances — one sudden and self-inflicted, the other after a private battle with cancer.
Mark Balelo — "Rico Suave"
Mark Balelo, nicknamed "Rico Suave" on the show for his flashy clothes and big-money bids, was found dead in 2013 inside his business in Simi Valley, California. The Ventura County medical examiner determined the cause was suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. His death came just days after an arrest on drug charges.
Balelo's flamboyant presence made him one of the more memorable recurring personalities in the series, known for high-stakes bidding wars and an over-the-top style that divided viewers. But off-camera, his final weeks were marked by legal trouble and personal strain that never made it into the show's fast-cut episodes.
Gunter Nezhoda — fan favorite and family man
Gunter Nezhoda, who appeared as a recurring buyer from 2015 to 2019, died in March 2023 at age 67, six months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. His son and co-star Rene Nezhoda announced the news in an Instagram video.
"He was one of the guys on Storage Wars that never really got any hate," Rene said. "People just loved being around him."
Rene explained that his father had smoked for 30 years, and while the family stayed hopeful through his illness, doctors eventually told them nothing more could be done. Gunter died peacefully in his sleep in Utah.
Born in Austria and living in Las Vegas, Gunter had a life beyond reality TV — working as a photographer, bass guitarist, and occasional actor in indie films like The Haunting at Death Valley Junction (2020) and Do Not Disturb (2014). Fans remembered him in online tributes as "a cool character" and "one of the nicest guys on the show."