SISSONVILLE, W.Va. — A cast member of the MTV reality show “BUCKWILD” was found dead Monday in a sport utility vehicle in a ditch along with his uncle and a third, unidentified person, authorities said.
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department Cpl. B.D. Humphreys said the bodies of cast member, Shain Gandee, 21, his uncle, David Gandee, 48, and the third person were found Monday near Sissonville.
Authorities had been searching for the men since early Sunday morning. They were last seen around 3 a.m. Sunday at a bar in Sissonville and they told people they were going driving off-road.
Humphreys said state police were getting ready to send out an aviation unit to search for the men when authorities received a call Monday morning that a vehicle was found wrecked in a muddy area a few miles from Gandee’s home in Sissonville, about 15 miles outside of Charleston.
Authorities found the 1984 Ford Bronco that belonged to the Gandee family in a ditch with all three men inside. Humphreys did not provide details on the condition of the vehicle or the bodies. He said no foul play was expected.
The terrain in the area was “very muddy, very rough,” Humphreys said, adding that authorities had to use all-terrain vehicles to get to the site.
Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said the news was devastating for the small community near Charleston.
“It’s a very sad day for the Sissonville area and for these families,” he said. “This is a small community, and most of us know directly members of these families. We’re keeping them in our hearts and prayers.”
Shain, nicknamed “Gandee Candy” by fans, was a breakout star of the show that followed the antics of a group of young friends enjoying a wild country lifestyle. It was filmed last year, mostly around Sissonville and Charleston.
MTV issued a statement saying it was shocked and saddened to learn of its star’s death.
“We are waiting for more information but at this time, our main concern is for the Gandee family and their friends,” the network said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Shain had a magnetic personality, with a passion for life that touched everyone he met and we will miss him dearly.”
MTV announced in February that “BUCKWILD” would be picked up for a second season. It said the half-hour series in the old “Jersey Shore” time slot was pulling in an average of 3 million viewers per episode since its premiere and was the No. 1 original cable series on Thursday nights among 12- to 34-year-olds.
Shain Gandee is the third “BUCKWILD” cast member to make headlines.
Last week, 24-year-old Salwa Amin was sent back to jail for violating the terms of her bond following a February arrest. She was charged with two counts of drug possession with intent to deliver and initially jailed on $200,000 bond. That was later reduced to $100,000, but Amin remained behind bars without bond on Monday.
State Police say a multi-agency task force arrested Amin and two other people at a Summersville residence after receiving a tip from an informant. A search found oxycodone pills, heroin and $3,000 in cash.
Another cast mate, Michael Douglas Burford, was charged in February with driving under the influence.
