[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
We are continuing to learn more about this week’s shocking and unsettling Drake Bell saga.
Of course, as we reported on Thursday, the longtime television star was sought by police in Florida after being unable to be accounted for by loved ones. Cops in the city of Daytona Beach considered Bell to be “missing and endangered” as of very late Wednesday night, and they were hoping to track him down ASAP.
The case brought everyone involved a bit of a relief when Drake was found unharmed less than a day later. The Drake & Josh alum tried to make light of the situation a bit in a follow-up message amid the uncertainty. And since then, more details are being uncovered regarding what led to this week’s events.
Related: How ‘Little Miss Nobody’ Missing Persons Case Was Solved 60 Years Later
According to TMZ, Drake’s brother Robert was the one who first called in to police on Wednesday night to report the 36-year-old star missing and endangered. Robert called Orlando cops that evening and said his brother was “threatening suicide” over child custody issues involving his estranged wife Janet Von Schmeling.
In a new piece published early Saturday morning, the news outlet cites the police report that logged Robert’s call. In it, the concerned man claimed his celebrity brother was “making suicidal statements about wanting to hang himself,” and was allegedly showing signs of “not wanting to be alive anymore.”
The statements supposedly came via text message to both Robert and the brothers’ mother. In the texts, the outlet reports, Drake was allegedly “distraught and made suicidal statements.” At one point, the Hollywood veteran also allegedly wrote how he “was going to drink excessively and hang himself,” per the news outlet.
OMG…
The texts all apparently go back to ongoing child custody issues between Bell and Von Schmeling. The duo separated back in January, and they are now working through a tough time with their son as they move towards a full legal split.
Robert tried to get Drake to reply after those statements, but the star “wasn’t receptive.” That is what prompted Robert to call the cops in Orlando and ask for help with “a possible attempted suicide.” Those messages then got relayed between police departments as cops in several Florida jurisdictions set out on a search.
Robert told cops Drake had been in Winter Park, Florida at the time to visit Janet and the kids. Winter Park is a suburb of Orlando. The city of Daytona Beach — where cops were initially most publicly concerned about Drake’s whereabouts — is about 60 miles northeast of the central Florida metropolis. So it sounds like there were a lot of moving pieces in play.
Related: Drake Argues Against ‘False’ Narrative Around Him After Child Endangerment Conviction
For now, we just hope this really was a misunderstanding like Drake himself alluded to in his earlier response to the missing persons issue, and not anything more deeply concerning.
Sending love and light…
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, help is available. Consider contacting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, by calling, texting, or chatting, or go to 988lifeline.org.
[Image via Brian To/WENN]
