YouTube Star Etika Found Dead at 29 After Widespread Search

YouTube star Desmond “Etika” Amofah has died at age 29.

The New York Police Department confirmed Tuesday that Etika’s body was discovered in Manhattan’s East River. A police spokesperson told CBS News the social media star was located on Monday morning after a bystander called in to report a floating body.

Etika was unresponsive upon discovery and was declared deceased at the scene. A cause of death has yet to be released at this time.

The YouTuber’s death comes after he was reported missing on June 19. Authorities were first contacted when Etika uploaded a since-deleted video, in which he alluded to suicide.

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“I really had no intention of killing myself,” he said. “But I’d always push it too far. I guess I am mentally ill.”

He continued: “I’m sorry to those of you who I betrayed. I’m sorry for leaving such a stained legacy. I hope that my story maybe helps to make YouTube be a better place somehow in the future, to where people know boundaries and limits and how far things should go.”

Etika has discussed suicide before on his YouTube channel, including when he reportedly threatened to kill himself in October 2018. The incident stemmed from his channel getting deactivated due to a content violation.

Then in April, police visited his apartment for a welfare check after he reportedly threatened to harm himself. Etika live-streamed the event to his YouTube channel.

“He was threatening suicide inside the apartment,” police said at the time, a situation that led to Etika’s hospitalization.

The YouTube star first rose to prominence in 2012, becoming well-known for his vlogging of video games.