‘1000-lb Best Friends’ EXCLUSIVE: Vannessa Cross’ Soulmate Died in Prison – What Happened to Damien ‘Dee’ Metts?

During the first episode of 1000-lb Best Friends, Vannessa Cross shared a touching story about Damien Metts — the man she loved and lost. Now, we’ve discovered that “Dee” did indeed die young as she said. And, we discovered that he passed away in prison.

Vannessa Cross Talks about Man She Lost on 1000-lb Best Friends

On the inaugural episode of her new TLC show, Vannessa talked about growing up in poverty and being homeless. She says she and her mother even lived in their car. The cycle continued and later, she gave birth to sons Werner Cross and Jabob Cross.

She wasn’t with their father but later met the guy she calls “D”. Vannessa Cross said he was a father figure to her boys. Then, she said he died of liver cancer in 2016. All that is true. But there’s a lot more to the story.

After losing D, she said she was depressed. And Vanessa turned to food, she said on 1000-lb Best Friends. She said she’s still in pain from the loss. And Vannessa Cross is a comfort eater. She admits she’s over 400 pounds now.

We’ll see on Season 1 Episode 2 that she tips the scales at almost 442 lbs in Dr. Charles Procter’s office. During her tough childhood, Vannessa said her mother used food to comfort her. And now she’s stuck in that rut.

Who is Vannessa Cross’s Boyfriend — Damien Metts?

On episode 1 of the TLC show, she showed a glimpse of Dee’s grave. He passed away in late 2016, but the tale is tragic that took him from her. In late May of 2015, Henry County police arrested Damien. He was charged with felony intent to distribute.

And it was that arrest that led him to pass away in the state prison sentence. But this was just the last in a string of criminal charges against him — most felonies, and nearly all drug-related.

Although Damien Metts passed away in prison, he was buried in McDonough Memorial Cemetery, south of Atlanta. This is near where Vannessa Cross lives and we see segments of it on 1000-lb Best Friends.

Dee passed on November 11 and his service was held eight days later on November 19, 2016. He was celebrated by friends and loved ones with a tribute on King Boulevard and is fondly remembered on his family’s social media often.

What Was Damien Metts’ Criminal Record? 1000-lb Best Friends Tragedy

So, what led Vannessa’s boyfriend to die in prison? He had a string of arrests for drugs that led to one confinement after another until the final one where he died. Vannessa Cross says her boyfriend perished of liver cancer. And he passed in prison.

Damien’s string of criminal arrests started at age 26 and went up until his death at age 36.

• 12/21/2016 – felony sale and distribution of marijuana – sentenced to probation.
• 2/27/2007 – sale of cocaine – pled guilty to felony – 60-120 days in prison, probation, drug counseling.
• 7/18/2007 – possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, declined to prosecute (likely in conjunction with the guilty plea above)
• 8/21/2008 – felony possession with intent to distribute cocaine and “other drug” plus possession of marijuana – remanded to custody
• 5/27/2015 – possession with intent to sell chlorophenylpiperazine* and marijuana greater than one ounce – guilty – four years probation, six-year confinement, credit for time served

(*Designer drug – street name Ecstasy)

The final charge resulted in an arrest in May 2015 but the offense occurred a year prior. We consulted with our law enforcement contact who explained that the lengthy gap could be because Damien Metts sold to an undercover agent.

We were told that when the substance isn’t easily identifiable (i.e. the designer drug), it must be sent off for testing. This can take months and then a warrant’s issued. Then, law enforcement seeks to serve the warrant which can be a lengthy process.

At some point between his release in 2008 and arrest in 2015, he was involved with 1000-lb Best Friends star Vannessa Cross. However, he is not the father of either of her sons, Werner or Jacob Cross.

Where Was Vannessa’s Love When He Died?

For the prior charges with lesser prison sentences, the courts sent him to Jenkins Correction Cente rin Millen, Georgia. That’s about three hours from where Vannessa Cross lives. He was remanded there at least three times, according to the records.

For the last arrest, as it was more serious, and he was a repeat offender, incarceration was at a tougher facility. The court remanded Damien Meets to Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison. It’s near Jackson, Georgia, about one-half hour from McDonough.

That facility houses some of the toughest inmates in the state and is home to the state execution chamber. In conducting this research, we spoke to both the local sheriff’s office that oversees Jenkins as well as a rep of the state facility.

A rep at the state prison confirmed exclusively to Soap Dirt that Damien Metts passed away in custody there. However, they would not give details on the cause of death, as it is protected medical information.

All of the above information is exclusive to SD and may not be reproduced without credit and link here. Damien Metts passed away on November 11, 2016, a little more than a year into his six-year sentence.

Vannessa Cross posted the above tribute and said that Damien “changed my life” and said there will “never be another” like him. She asked, “why the good die so young?”. The most recent episode of the TLC show aired Monday, February 28, S1 E4 recap.