Ashly Robinson, the US influencer popularly known online as Ashlee Jenae, has passed away at the age of 31 while on vacation in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Her family confirmed the passing in an Instagram statement, revealing that Robinson had travelled to the island with Joe McCann, her fiancé, to celebrate her 31st birthday on April 5.
The lovebirds got engaged during the trip, with Jenae posting footage from the event to her over 113,000 Instagram followers on April 3.
According to the statement, Robinson was later found unconscious in her luxury villa at the Zuri Zanzibar resort. She was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead hours later.
The family described her death as “suspicious” and said an active investigation is underway. They urged the public to avoid speculation and trust the authorities in Zanzibar, adding that they are working closely with officials “as we seek clarity and answers”.
“Ashly Robinson, was on what should have been one of the happiest trips of her life, a birthday celebration in Zanzibar, Africa. Ashly’s birthday was April 5th, she just turned 31. Surrounded by beauty, love, and wildlife, she became engaged during a safari, an unforgettable moment that marked the start of a future she was so excited to build,” the statement reads.
“She and her fiancé, Joe McCann, were staying in a luxury villa at the Zuri Zanzibar, continuing what we believed was her dream trip. But just days later, that dream turned into our family’s worst nightmare. Ashly was found unconscious in her villa and was rushed to a local hospital, where her death was confirmed hours later.
“Nothing about this loss feels real. One moment she was celebrating love and life in truly Ashly fashion, and the next, she was gone. The suddenness, the unanswered questions, and the distance from home have made this tragedy even more overwhelming for our family. At this time, there is an active investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ashly’s suspicious passing.
“Although we have many questions, we are placing our trust in the officials in Zanzibar and are working closely with them as we seek clarity and answers. Ashly was deeply loved. She was vibrant, full of life, and had so much ahead of her. Our family is completely devastated, and we appreciate the prayers, and compassion we have received as we navigate this unimaginable loss.
“We respectfully ask that any information not directly provided by our family be treated as unverified and not considered factual at this time.”
Authorities in Tanzania have, however, offered a different version of the event. In a statement cited by local outlet Mwananchi, police alleged that Robinson died by suicide.
They also claimed that there had been a “misunderstanding” between Robinson and McCann before her death, which reportedly led hotel management to separate the couple into different rooms.
A few days before her demise, the influencer had posted footage from her trip wherein she was feeding local wildlife.
“Chapter 31 and I’m exactly where i need to be,” she captioned an Instagram post.
