33-year-old YouTuber and animal rescuer dies by suicide after alleged online bullying by perceived close friends

Summary

Mikayla Raines, a 33-year-old YouTuber and co-founder of SaveAFox, died by suicide in June 2025. Her husband, Ethan Frankamp, revealed in a YouTube video that she faced alleged online bullying from people she considered close friends, which contributed to her emotional distress. Raines had autism, depression, and borderline personality disorder, which her husband said caused emotional instability and impulsive behaviors. An emotional funeral for Raines was held on July 12, 2025, featuring a rendition of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and eulogies from her loved ones. Frankamp stated that Raines felt the entire world had turned against her and could no longer bear the emotional pain. In her final days, Raines had been working to rescue and rehome foxes, and her mother noted that she was struggling with not finding homes for the last 100 foxes quickly enough.