While medical examiners try to determine the cause of death for Shain Gandee, the Buckwild star’s friends and family remain in shock over his sudden passing. Gandee’s second cousin Ashley Lewis tells RadarOnline.com that he was with her in Crown City, Ohio on Saturday to help her open Gandee’s General Store.
“We had the grand opening with him, smiling, signing autographs, and just being his fun self,” Lewis says. “We actually had people here from Texas, from Dayton, Ohio, from Pennsylvania. People drove hundreds of miles just to meet him because he was such a lovable guy.”
“I’m completely devastated and I know that his entire family is too. It’s just totally unexpected,” continues Lewis. “I’ve talked to Shain’s dad, mom and aunt, and they’re not holding up well. They’re really taking it hard and just crying as any mother would, to find your son passed away so unexpectedly.”
Lewis says the family is “still waiting to hear” how Shain, his uncle David Gandee, and family friend Robert Myers died. “We do not have confirmation yet from anybody what exactly happened. We know there were three of them in the car, but we don’t know the circumstances. We’re still waiting to hear,” she adds.
The three men were found dead Monday in a vehicle partially submerged in mud alongside a dirt road in Sissionville, West Virginia. They were last seen around 3 a.m. on Sunday at Larry’s Bar in Sissonville.
Some of Shain’s Buckwild costars have paid tribute to him on Twitter.
“Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat. Just going through the motions. Please pray for Shains close friends and family… So much pain and so much darkness in this world we stumble through. Thank you for all the support and prayers,” wrote Shae Bradley.
“My heart is broken,” Anna Davis wrote. “We all really appreciate the love and support through this unbearable tragedy. #ripshain.”
Cara Parrish said: “This is the emptiest I’ve ever felt. Please pray for [Shain's parents] Dale and Loretta.”
“Everything doesn’t happen for a reason I don’t know why people say that… Thanks everyone for your condolences. We appreciate it… I guess what you do is pray. No I won’t keep my head up and no I will not be strong. So stop asking,” tweeted Katie Saria.
Ashley Whitt wrote: “Rip Shain Gandee. You are an angel, I know you will watch over me. You were the most amazing person I’ve ever known.”
Buckwild debuted in January. The MTV show follows 9 friends as they find ways to have fun in Sissonville and Charleston, West Virginia.
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