Shain Gandee, the young star of MTV's hit reality series "Buckwild," died from carbon monoxide poisoning, authorities have announced. The show's production company has offered to pay the cost of his funeral.
Fans of the popular MTV program were greeted with tragic news this week as word quickly spread of Gandee's death. A native of West Virginia, 21-year-old Gandee was discovered dead early Monday morning by a man on a four-wheeler, along with his uncle, 48-year-old David Gandee, and 27-year-old Donald Robert Myers, another Sissonville area local, 31-hours after the men were reported missing Sunday.
Kanawha County Commission Cpl. B.D. Humphreys said the muffler of Shain's red-and-white 1984 Ford Bronco was beneath the surface, and that mud was covering the passenger side of the vehicle. The three men died from carbon monoxide poisoning, and their deaths have been ruled as accidental, Humphreys added.
Gandee's family had said they were having a difficult time raising funds for Shain's funeral, but the producers behind the series have decided to cover the costs.
"Shain was a great kid with a big heart who had endless love for his mom and dad. I am from West Virginia and this show reminded me of how I grew up," said one of the show's producers J.P. Williams, CEO of Parallel Entertainment.
In a missing person's report filed Sunday evening, authorities said Gandee had last been seen with his uncle early Sunday morning around 3 a.m. as they were leaving a Sissonville watering hole, Larry's Bar, according to The Washington Post. The uncle and nephew reportedly told people at the bar they were about to go four-wheeling in Shain's 1984 Ford Bronco as they left, but neither of the men said exactly where they planned to drive off-road. The pair were reported missing late Sunday evening when their family and friends tried unsuccessfully to locate them during the day. Shain Gandee's red-and-white truck was last seen leaving the bar's parking lot.
After premiering in January, Gandee had fast become a fan favorite on MTV's "Buckwild" reality series. The show follows a group of nine young friends in Sissonville and Charleston, W. Va.
MTV had recently green lit and begun filming the second season of "Buckwild," but has announced that production of the series has been shut down indefinitely in light of the incident.
"We are shocked and saddened by the terrible news about Shain Gandee, and those involved in this tragic incident," said MTV in a statement, according to The Huffington Post.