Tragic YouTuber Etika live-streamed as police detained him and posted a series of erratic tweets after sharing pornographic content on his site, just months before he was found dead in a New York river following a worrying video talking about suicide.
The body of the popular online star was found in the East River on Monday evening, nearly a week after he completely vanished. The medical examiner determined his cause of death was drowning in the manner of suicide on Wednesday.
Desmond Amofah, better known by his online name of Etika, was last seen in Brooklyn on Wednesday, hours after he posted an ominous eight-minute video in which cryptically hinted that he may commit suicide.
In April the 29-year-old shared a worrying video showing the moment police broke down his door after he threatened to commit suicide.
In the clip he repeatedly tells nearly 20,000 viewers he is ‘scared’ following a 30-minute standoff with cops.
He says: ‘They knocked the peephole out. You’re being ridiculous, look at how many cars there are.’
Desmond Amofah, better known by his online name of Etika, live-streamed as police detained him just months before he was found dead in a New York river. In the clip he repeatedly tells nearly 20,000 viewers he is ‘scared’ following a 30-minute standoff with cops
Police in riot gear are then seen entering his apartment and the YouTuber was later seen on a stretcher being removed from his home and led to an ambulance.
The disturbing stream is said to have lasted more than 45 minutes and showed Etika in his apartment and a street blocked by yellow caution tape and filled with police.
His detainment followed a series of erratic tweets in which Amofah called himself ‘god’ and said ‘he fears nothing’. He also posted and quickly deleted an anti-semitic message and others, including one which said: ”Don’t do a deal with the Devil!’
In October the influencer had posted pornographic content to his own YouTube channel which saw it deleted. He also blocked many of his friends online, including ex-girlfriend Christine Cardona, known online as Alice Pika.
She tweeted following his death: ‘Desmond, thank you for everything. I forgive you. I’m glad you forgive me.
‘I know your brother Randy isn’t thrilled to see you so soon but I know you’re excited to get to hug him again. Randy told me to protect you, and I did the best I could and beyond.’
It is understood Amofah’s brother died in 2010.
NYPD officials revealed Tuesday that they had located the 29-year-old’s body near South Street Seaport yesterday evening, at around 6:20pm.
‘We regret to inform that Desmond Amofah aka Etika has been found deceased,’ a tweet from the police department read.
The body of Desmond Amofah, better known by his online name of Etika, was found on Monday evening near South Street Seaport the evening before, at around 6:20pm
NYPD confirmed the news in a Tweet on Tuesday afternoon
He was last heard from on the evening of June 19, where he was contacted by phone after uploading what would prove to be his final video.
‘I’m sorry for leaving such a stained legacy,’ Etika says. ‘I hope that my story maybe helps to make YouTube a better place in the future where people know boundaries and limits and how far things should go.
He adds: ‘You know I wasn’t suicidal before — I really wasn’t. But one thing I didn’t realize was that the walls were closing around me so fast. I really had no intention of killing myself but I’d always push it too far. I guess I am mentally ill.’
Social media ‘can give you an image of what you want your life to be and get blown completely out of proportion,’ he says in the video. ‘It consumed me.’
YouTube Creators tweeted: ‘We mourn the loss of Etika, a beloved member of our gaming creator community. All of us at YouTube are sending condolences to his loved ones and fans.’
His detainment followed a series of erratic tweets in which Amofah called himself ‘god’ and said ‘he fears nothing’. He also posted and quickly deleted an anti-semitic message and others, including one which said: ”Don’t do a deal with the Devil!’
Fears for Etika’s safety grew on Wednesday evening when his wallet, cell phone and Nintendo Switch were all found by the side of the Manhattan Bridge
Concerned fans flocked to the star’s Instagram account – where he boasts 239,000 followers – to express their concern for the 29-year-old.
‘Please be safe, we can’t lose you,’ one pleaded in the comments sections beneath his most recent photo.
‘We love you from the bottom of our hearts!’ another stated.
Etika’s former girlfriend has told Inside Edition that the star has a history of mental illness, and was hospitalized as recently as April.
Before his disappearance, Amofah posted an eight-minute video in which he revealed he was suicidal
Christine Cardona, known online as Alice Pika – who dated the star from 2011 until 2017 – said he has been hospitalized several times in the past.
Fears for Etika’s safety grew on Wednesday evening when his wallet, cell phone and Nintendo Switch were all found by the side of the Manhattan Bridge.
‘Let my story be one that advises caution on too much of the social media s**t, man,’ Etika said in his final upload.
‘It will f*** you up and give you an image of what you want your life to be and it can get blown completely out of proportion, dog. Unfortunately, it consumed me.’
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477.
If you are struggling with mental health you can get help by calling National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255