Investigation Concludes Ashlee Jenae Died by Suicide
Two months after American influencer Ashlee Jenae was found dead at a luxury resort in Zanzibar, Tanzanian authorities have revealed her cause of death. The 31-year-old New Jersey native, whose real name was Ashly Robinson, was pronounced dead on April 9 after being discovered unconscious at the Zuri Zanzibar resort. According to local outlet The Citizen Press, investigators concluded that Jenae died by suicide as a result of mental distress.
Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations Zuberi Chembera stated at a press conference in Zanzibar on Thursday, 'Through witness statements and analysis of communication devices belonging to the deceased and her fiancé, we established that she had been experiencing mental distress.' SMS exchanges showed repeated complaints regarding her life circumstances. He added that the investigation 'confirmed no individual was implicated in the death.'
Details of the Incident
Jenae's death came hours after she was heard having a 'volatile' fight with her crypto mogul fiancé Joe McCann, 45, and six days after the couple got engaged during a safari. Police said her death was 'related' to that fight, which became so volatile that staff members moved McCann to a separate room 'for their safety.' McCann said he returned with a security guard to check on Jenae and found her hanging from a door. A hospital listed her cause of death as cerebral hypoxia by strangulation and suffocation.
Fiancé's Account and Family's Dispute
McCann, the wealthy founder of crypto fund Asymmetric Financial, described Jenae as 'an angel who shined her light on everyone fortunate enough to be in her presence.' He said, 'There is no way to fill the unfillable void left by Ashly's passing and no way to make sense of this unfathomable loss. All we can do is carry on Ashly's legacy of helping other people and strive to live up to her virtues every single day.'
However, Jenae's parents have publicly disputed claims that she would take her own life. Her sister Alyssa Endres, 20, told the Daily Mail that her late sibling was a 'beautiful' and high-spirited person, and a suicide would have been 'extremely' out of character for her. The family released a statement describing her death as 'suspicious' and said they are placing their trust in officials in Zanzibar while seeking clarity.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The Tanzania Police Force announced on April 14 that McCann was 'questioned' by investigators and his travel document had been withheld amid the ongoing probe. It was believed he was being questioned as a witness, and authorities previously told local media he was not suspected of any wrongdoing, according to the BBC. McCann, in his post, described Jenae as 'a woman who embodied the virtues of compassion, empathy, kindness, generosity, and love.'
