Investigation Closes: Authorities Rule Influencer Ashlee Jenae's Death a Suicide

A luxury resort getaway that began with an engagement proposal just days earlier has ended with Tanzanian authorities officially closing their investigation into the death of influencer Ashlee Jenae. On June 4, 2026, the Tanzania Police Force revealed their conclusion: the 31-year-old died by suicide following a domestic dispute with her fiancé, Joe McCann.

The timeline paints a picture of escalating tension during what should have been a joyous trip. On April 3, Ashlee—whose real name was Ashly Robinson—posted video of McCann proposing during a safari. By April 8, hotel staff had separated the couple into different rooms after witnessing a fight between them. The next day, a hotel employee conducting a routine evening check discovered Ashlee unconscious in her villa, suspended from a wardrobe’s clothing rail using a robe belt provided by the resort. She was rushed to a hospital, where she died on April 9.

The official cause of death was listed as cerebral hypoxia caused by strangulation and suffocation. McCann told authorities he found Ashlee after she had hanged herself on the door. He was questioned during the investigation and had his passport temporarily seized, though he was never arrested or charged with any crime.

But closure through official channels doesn’t mean acceptance from those closest to Ashlee. Her family publicly questioned the circumstances from the start, describing her as a“beacon of light”with no signs of suicidal ideation. They leveled criticism at McCann for waiting roughly 11 hours before notifying them something had happened, and for initially downplaying the situation by telling them Ashlee was“okay.”The tensions escalated when Ashlee’s family banned McCann from her funeral and claimed her belongings—including her engagement ring—hadn’t been returned.

McCann eventually broke his silence on social media, calling Ashlee his“best friend, confidante and fiancé”and saying there were“no adequate words”to describe his devastation. An investigation may be closed, but the grief and unanswered questions remain.