The death of influencer Ashlee Jenae, who died while traveling in Tanzania with her fiancé, has been officially ruled a suicide after authorities completed their investigation.
The Zanzibar Police Force, which launched a probe after she was found dead on April 9, concluded that Jenae died by suicide linked to mental distress.
According to TMZ, hotel staff at the Zuri Hotel discovered her after conducting a routine evening check when she failed to respond in her room, finding her 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 case, 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 further 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 attracted significant online attention due to the circumstances surrounding her death. Jenae, whose legal name was Ashly Robinson, had become engaged to McCann just days before the incident. Reports also claimed hotel staff previously intervened to “separate” the couple following 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 returned to New Jersey in April. In the same month, a GoFundMe organized by her parents, Harry Robinson and Yolanda Denise Endres, raised nearly $64,000, exceeding its $50,000 target.
Following her death, the family released a statement saying 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 conclusion provides clarity on the cause of death, her loved ones continue to grapple with grief and unanswered emotions surrounding the loss.
