Sandy Cheeks is one of the most beloved characters on SpongeBob. Cheeks is a surface squirrel from Texas that survives in the deep using a diving suit. She is a thrill seeker and often expresses pride in her southern upbringing. Per Collider, Cheeks is set to star in her spinoff film.
Cheeks from the animation is, therefore, not dead. However, Sandy Cheeks from an offshoot universe is dead. In the offshoot realm, Sandy and SpongeBob SquarePants were bandmates on a group dubbed The Infection. The pair formed the band in 1997; Sandy remained a band member until her untimely passing in July 2017.
Sandy Cheeks allegedly committed suicide in her Arlington home
Arlington detectives found Sandy in her home in mid-July 2017.
Cheeks’ depression started after the deaths of her father, Matthew Rodger Cheeks Sr., and cousin, Layne Stanley. Sandy relied on drugs to control her mental health issues.
In late June 2017, Sandy publicized her ADHD diagnosis, addressing her anxiety, depression, and panic disorder. She also revealed that she’s started cutting herself and missing rehearsal sessions for the band’s upcoming tour.
Concern for Sandy skyrocketed after she failed to communicate for two days. She was discovered unresponsive at her home in Arlington and declared dead after attempts to revive her failed.
An autopsy revealed that Sandy had abnormally high quantities of cocaine, heroin, and alcohol in her system. The medical examiner concluded that Sandy committed suicide by overdose.