The death of influencer Ashlee Jenae, who was on a trip to Tanzania with her fiancé, has been officially classified as a suicide following the conclusion of an investigation by authorities.
The Zanzibar Police Force, which opened an inquiry after she was discovered dead on April 9, said Jenae died by suicide linked to mental distress.
According to TMZ, hotel staff at the Zuri Hotel found her during a routine evening check after she failed to respond in her room. She was discovered inside a wardrobe.
Investigators reportedly stated that she was “suspended from the closet’s clothing rail using a robe belt the hotel provides for guests.”
Her fiancé, Joe McCann, who was not implicated in the investigation, reacted to the findings in a statement to TMZ.
“Today’s official announcement from Tanzanian authorities that my soulmate Ashly Robinson died by suicide does not lessen the tragedy of her death,” he said. “I miss Ashly every moment of every day, and the pain of being without her will never go away. A sudden loss of this magnitude is not something I can simply get over.”
He added, “My priorities all along were getting Ashly home and cooperating with the authorities to ensure that the truth would be revealed. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to the dedicated men and women of the Tanzania Police Force for their professional, sensitive, and thorough investigation.”
The case drew widespread online attention because of the circumstances surrounding her death. Jenae, whose legal name was Ashly Robinson, had become engaged to McCann just days before the incident.
Reports also alleged that hotel staff had earlier stepped in to “separate” the couple after an argument, while her sister described her as “happy” and “so ready to take the next steps with who she thought was the love of her life.”
Her remains were later repatriated to New Jersey in April. That same month, a GoFundMe campaign launched by her parents, Harry Robinson and Yolanda Denise Endres, raised nearly $64,000, surpassing its $50,000 goal.
Following her passing, the family said that “nothing about this loss feels real.” They added, “The suddenness, the unanswered questions, and the distance from home have made this tragedy even more overwhelming for our family.”
While the official ruling has provided some clarity, her loved ones continue to navigate grief and lingering questions surrounding her death.
