Joe Winko Films Himself Committing Suicide With Sodium Nitrite

Joe Winko (December 5, 1995 – August 25, 2025) lived a miserable life. He was born in Wisconsin. His mother died of a drug overdose two weeks after giving birth to Joe Winko and his twin brother. She was 14 years old at the time of her death. Custody of him and his twin brother was transferred to his biological father in early 1996. Shortly afterward, his father attempted to drown Joe Winko and his twin brother in a sink. Joe Winko survived, but his twin brother died. Joe Winko's biological father was arrested in 1996, sentenced to life in prison, and murdered by inmates in 1998. He was 21 years old at the time of his death. Joe Winko was later adopted and cared for by foster parents. Joe Winko and his adoptive father had a relatively good relationship, but his relationship with his adoptive mother was strained. According to Joe Winko's YouTube channel, his adoptive mother was authoritarian. Joe Winko graduated from high school, went to college, and worked as a retail worker. Joe Winko suffered from type 1 diabetes, severe kidney failure, and mental health issues due to his biological mother's drug abuse and brain damage, presumably caused by his biological father's attempted drowning. These issues are documented on his YouTube channel. He attempted suicide several times since childhood. He was deeply interested in the deceased and frequently posted videos on YouTube of himself visiting and paying tribute to their graves. On August 25, 2025, he committed suicide by ingesting sodium nitrite and used the auto-posting feature to post his death on Twitter, WPD, and Google Drive.