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This article addresses suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
The tragic loss of a beloved New Jersey social media influencer has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a joyous celebration. Ashly Robinson, known to her followers as Ashlee Jenae, died in an apparent suicide while vacationing in Zanzibar, off the coast of Africa. Her untimely death occurred shortly after she became engaged to her longtime partner, Joe McCann, during a trip meant to commemorate her 31st birthday.
In a heart-wrenching development, Robinson’s body was returned to her family in New Jersey last Friday. However, her personal belongings, including her engagement ring, were not sent back with her remains, according to her father, Harry Robinson, as he shared with TMZ.
With a following of 145,000 on Instagram, Ashlee Jenae had made a name for herself as a lifestyle influencer, captivating her audience with her engaging content. Her vibrant presence on social media will be missed by many, leaving a void in the hearts of those who followed her journey.
Ashlee Jenae was a social media influencer with 145,000 Instagram followers who shared lifestyle content. (GoFundMe)
Robinson was discovered hanging from a door inside her hotel room and was subsequently transported to a hospital, where she died one day later.
Her death was ruled a suicide by authorities.
Tanzania Police previously revealed Robinson’s death was “attributed to a misunderstanding” between the influencer and McCann, while adding that the incident forced hotel staff to separate the newly engaged couple by placing McCann in another room “for their safety.”
Following Robinson’s death, Tanzania Police at the time revealed McCann “continues to be questioned by the Police Force and his passport has been suspended,” though authorities did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation.
Ashlee Jenae and her fiancé, Joe McCann, were enjoying a birthday trip to Zanzibar in early April when authorities say she was found inside her hotel room attempting suicide. (iStock)
Sources have since told the BBC that McCann was being interviewed as a witness in the case and is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Details regarding whether McCann has since returned to the United States remain unclear, and local authorities did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment regarding the status of his passport.
In the immediate aftermath of Robinson’s death, her family spoke out to dispute authorities’ ruling that the 31-year-old influencer died by suicide.
In a previous interview with TMZ, Robinson’s parents, Harry and Yolanda Robinson, rejected authorities’ ruling that their daughter would take her own life, adding, “She was a beacon of light. A happy, go-lucky girl. Very excited to go on this birthday trip which later turned into a proposal.”
Her family also reportedly told the outlet at the time that McCann contacted them 11 hours after Robinson was transported to the hospital, and only reached out again to inform them she had passed.
Robinson’s parents told TMZ they have not heard from McCann since she died, a development that they find “very very odd,” FOX 29 reported.
“The sadness, the unanswered questions, and the distance from home have made this tragedy even more overwhelming for our family,” Robinson’s parents said in a statement shared to social media.
“At this time, there is an active investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ashly’s suspicious passing,” they added.
Robinson, a popular social media influencer, had 145,000 followers on Instagram and regularly posted lifestyle content. She frequently shared photos with McCann, including one of her final posts showing her feeding giraffes while on vacation in Zanzibar.
Fox News Digital reached out to McCann, Zanzibar Police and the U.S. Embassy. It was not immediately clear whether McCann had retained an attorney.