*The death of American fashion influencer Ashlee Jenae Robinson in Zanzibar has triggered an international outcry, with her family publicly rejecting the official suicide ruling and pushing for a full independent inquiry into what took place.

Robinson, known on social media as Ashly Robinson, was 31 years old when she was discovered unresponsive in her room at the upscale Zuri Zanzibar Hotel on Nungwi Beach. She had made the trip to the East African island with her fiancé, 48-year-old U.S.-based cryptocurrency dealer Joe McCann, to celebrate her birthday. The two had gotten engaged just days before tragedy struck.

Joe McCann and Ashlee Jenae - via Instagram

After checking into the property on April 4, 2026, the couple’s trip took a dark turn when an argument escalated, prompting hotel management to move them to separate accommodations. Tanzanian authorities allege that Robinson took her own life in her room shortly afterward, using fabric from her clothing tied to a wardrobe. She was transported to a medical facility but did not survive, and was declared dead on April 10.

 

According to the Tanzania Times, McCann was initially held by authorities and his travel documents were confiscated while investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the case. According to a statement posted on the Tanzania Police Force Facebook page, McCann remains in the country and is still being questioned as part of an ongoing investigation.

“At this time, Joseph McCann continues to be questioned by the Police Force,” the post reads. “However, an investigation into this case is still ongoing, including awaiting information from a professional examination by doctors.”

Robinson’s parents, Harry Robinson and Yolanda Endres, are determined to uncover the truth themselves. Speaking to CBS News, Yolanda was direct about where the family stands. “Ashly was at her happiest moment, then all of a sudden, she was dead. We are not buying the suicide tale,” she said, per Tanzania Times.

The family has also expressed frustration over McCann’s near-total silence since the incident. He made contact with them only once, well after Robinson had already been admitted to the hospital, and has gone quiet ever since. Obtaining the resort’s security camera footage has become a priority for the family as they work to reconstruct the events leading up to her death.

To offset the financial burden of bringing Robinson home and pursuing answers abroad, her father launched a GoFundMe campaign with a target of $50,000. The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam dispatched a coroner to assist local authorities with the autopsy, though no findings, official ruling, or charges have been released publicly.