Ashly Robinson, a New Jersey-based influencer known online as Ashlee Jenae, was found dead in Zanzibar on April 9th while celebrating her 31st birthday with her fiancé, Joseph McCann. According to Tanzanian police and reports from The Cut, Robinson's death was initially believed to be a suicide. However, discrepancies in the timeline and medical reports have raised questions.
Key Takeaways
New Jersey influencer Ashly Robinson, known online as Ashlee Jenae, was found dead in Zanzibar while celebrating her 31st birthday with fiancé Joe McCann. Police initially reported it as a suicide but are now investigating further after discrepancies in the timeline and medical reports emerged.
- Influencer Ashly Robinson died in Zanzibar on April 9th
- Initial police report suggested suicide, but family disputes this claim
- Medical reports indicate marks around her neck and cerebral hypoxia by strangulation
- Family demands transparency and surveillance footage from the resort
Robinson's family has expressed disbelief at the official narrative, with her mother Yolanda Denise Endres telling ABC Philadelphia affiliate WPVI that her daughter had never shown signs of wanting to harm herself. The family was initially informed by McCann that Robinson was stable and in the hospital, but later learned she had died.
A medical report obtained by ABC Philadelphia noted an unidentified mark around Robinson's neck and stated that McCann found her hanging from a door. However, a second hospital listed the cause of death as cerebral hypoxia due to strangulation and suffocation. The family has requested surveillance footage from the resort and is pressing for a transparent investigation.
McCann's passport has been confiscated, though police have stated he is not suspected of any wrongdoing. Robinson's Instagram comments have been flooded with followers accusing McCann of foul play. The family has sought answers from both Tanzanian authorities and the U.S. embassy but has yet to receive conclusive information.
The case remains under investigation, with police awaiting autopsy results. Robinson's parents described their daughter as a happy individual who was excited about her future, making her sudden death all the more perplexing. The family continues to demand answers and transparency from authorities.
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