Who is Etika and why are the NYPD searching for him?

Daniel Desmond ‘Etika’ Amofah has been missing ever since he uploaded a distressing video alluding to suicide on YouTube, and now the New York Police Department have launched an investigation into his situation. Here’s everything we know. 

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The Twitch streamer and YouTuber has been reported as missing, after last being heard on phone at 8 pm EST on June 19. Amofah uploaded a video with what has been described as a suicide note a few hours later that same night and has not been seen since by friends or family. 

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Who is Etika?

Etika is from Brooklyn and is 29-years-old. Standing at 6ft tall, he weighs around 160 pounds. 

The content creator has built up a large following on YouTube – attracting over 130,000 subscribers on the platform, who regularly engage with his videos. His role as a YouTuber involves him hosting livestreams and uploading videos, where he’ll often try out popular video games or tackle hot news topics with his own unique take. 

He does have a reputation for controversial comments, though, many of which he apologized for in his latest – now deleted – eight minute YouTube video. Homophobic slurs also landed Etika in hot water with Twitch in October 2018, where he was banned from streaming on the platform – as reported by Newsweek. 

That video included some distressing details, too. He wrote in the description: “As far as we know, there is no life after death. My time ends now, but if there is a way for me too, I’ll send you all as many blessings as I can from the other side.”

Why are NYPD looking for Etika?

The New York Police Department are calling out for any new information that could help their investigation into Etika’s whereabouts, after he was reported as missing on June 20, with his latest video potentially alluding to a planned suicide.

The story was first picked up by esports consultant Rod Breslau on the night the video was uploaded to YouTube, who described the description of his video as a potential “suicide note” – as reported in our original news article. 

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June 19 wasn’t the first time that he has expressed suicidal thoughts, either, which might be a greater concern for those closest to him. Back in April of this year, Etika’s home door was broken down in order to check on his mental stability, after suggesting that he was going to take his own life. 

The internet personality wrote: “Savonarola! I’m going to kill myself! You lot certainly have already. Shame on you all, silly humans,” before suggesting that he was about to shoot himself in the forehead with a gun bought from Long Island, New York – as reported in our article at the time. 

Thankfully for his fans and loved ones he didn’t act on those words at that time, but his recent disappearance has caused serious concern. 

Etika also has a history of concerning acts, too, after being detained for anti-semitic tweets back in April 2019, having been placed in a psychiatric ward of a hospital following an altercation with a police officer just a month previous. 

There had initially been suggestions from members of the content creation community, such as KEEMSTAR, that this disappearance was actually a hoax – after some users dug up some of Etika’s old posts to Twitter, where he asked fans about when he should schedule his next mental breakdown. 

However, he is still yet to be found at the time of writing, and those who suggested it might not be genuine have now started to reach out for more details. 

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If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or know anyone else that is, you can always talk to someone. Please reach out and call the Suicide Prevention Helpline 1-800-273-8255 (USA) or the Samaritans 116-123 (UK).