Joshua Fay Saunders, known to his followers as KingCobraJFS or Gothic King Cobra, was discovered unresponsive at his home in Casper, Wyoming, on August 21, 2025, at the age of 34. Police and EMS were called to the scene, but responders determined the YouTuber could not be revived and notified the coroner. Scanner audio from local authorities described him as being “blue at the lips” when found, though an official cause of death has not yet been released.
Doctors believe the content creator likely died in his sleep and emphasized that it was not a case of self-harm.
The following day, Joshua’s father, Clint Saunders, confirmed the news in a now-deleted video before addressing rumors in a livestream. Clint, who had planned to take Joshua to a doctor’s appointment that day, recalled the devastating moment.
Kingcobrajfs dad released this video confirming his death before it was deleted. Rip. pic.twitter.com/JuLqgNzqGR
— slackerblue (@SlackerBluePod) August 22, 2025
While confirming the death, Clint also reflected on the relentless bullying Joshua endured online and in life. He said, “I got on today to delete all of his social media… because ‘f**k you’ is how I’m feeling. But I realized that would not be fair to his fans, and it’s certainly nothing he would want. As you all know, Josh was harassed and bullied terribly his whole life. From the time he was 3, it was just nonstop. It was like he had a neon sign that said ‘Please pick on me.”
His Life and Career
Born on March 26, 1991, in Casper, Wyoming, Joshua had a difficult childhood marked by early health challenges. His mother stopped breastfeeding when he was an infant and switched to formula, which caused severe complications. As he grew older, Joshua turned to creativity and music as outlets.
In 2011, he launched his YouTube channel from his father’s basement. Over time, he developed a cult following through his gothic persona, candid rants, and quirky “food hacks.”
Music remained central to his identity, with guitar playing and vocal covers becoming fan favorites. His openness about living with Asperger’s syndrome drew both support and criticism, placing him at the center of “lolcow” culture, where creators are often ridiculed online.
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By the time of his death in August, his channel had amassed 117,000 subscribers and over 5,300 videos.
Struggles and Controversies
Joshua’s life was also defined by public struggles with alcoholism. He often addressed his drinking habits on livestreams, and trolls frequently sent him alcohol to feed the addiction. His downward spiral led to several controversies, including a public eviction in 2020 and harassment campaigns by critics.
On December 23, 2022, he was arrested for public intoxication after smoking a cigarette outside a Loaf ‘N Jug convenience store, dangerously close to gas pumps. He spent the night in jail following the incident.
Who Was KingCobraJFS’ Girlfriend?
At the time of his death, KingCobraJFS was in a relationship with a woman named Jessica, who was also known online as Methica. She was 38 years old and living with her parents. Their relationship was often turbulent, with frequent arguments.
Earlier in his life, Joshua had been in several other relationships. At 19, while attending Job Corps, he began dating a woman named Stephanie. The two stayed together until 2014, when the relationship ended after both admitted to cheating. In 2015, Joshua briefly dated a woman named Ami, though that romance lasted only a single day.
KingCobraJFS’ Net Worth
The exact figure of KingCobraJFS’ net worth has never been confirmed, though reports suggest it was around $500,000 at the time of his death. Most of his earnings came from his long-running YouTube career, where his cult following and steady content output brought in thousands of dollars through views, ads, and fan support.
