NJ influencer Ashlee Jenae’s cause of death revealed after Zanzibar trip with fiancé ended in tragedy

New Jersey influencer Ashlee Jenae‘s cause of death has been confirmed to be suicide after police said the content creator had an explosive fight with her fiancé at a luxury resort in Tanzania.

“Through witness statements and analysis of communication devices belonging to the deceased and her fiancé, we established that she had been experiencing mental distress,” local police chief Zuberi Chembera told the media on Thursday, as first reported by Tanzanian news outlet the Citizen.

“SMS messages showed repeated complaints regarding her life circumstances,” added Chembera, speaking from Zanzibar, the popular tourist destination where Jenae, 31, was staying with her husband-to-be Joe McCann, 45, at the time of her death in April.

Staff at the Zuri Hotel moved Jenae—real name Ashly Robinson—and McCann into separate villas on April 8, two days after they checked in, following a vicious argument, according to police.

Just before 9 p.m. that evening, a staff member carrying out routine checks let themselves into Robinson’s new villa with a master key and heard a sudden thud-like sound before finding her hanging inside the unlit room, police said.

She had fashioned a noose out of a hotel-provided robe belt and a clothing rail, according to police.

No further details were given about the nature of the couple’s argument before Robinson’s death, and police in Zanzibar said their investigation is now closed.

The pair had been dating for around a year, and McCann, who works in crypto, had proposed two days before her birthday during the vacation.

Robinson had been documenting her trip, including the proposal video, on her social media and was in regular contact with her parents until suddenly going radio silent on April 8.

In her final phone call to the States, Robinson told her parents that the couple had fought so badly that hotel staff had placed them in separate rooms.

The next day, April 9, McCann called his fiancée’s parents to say that their daughter “did something to herself,” but was vague on details.

Robinson died later that day, with her cause of death listed as cerebral hypoxia by strangulation and suffocation.

McCann, who was questioned following the death but never accused by police of any wrongdoing, broke his silence on May 5, hours after he reportedly wasn’t invited to Robinson’s funeral at the Second Baptist Church in Paulsboro, NJ.

“There are no adequate words to describe the total devastation, emptiness, and shock I feel after losing my best friend, confidante and fiancé,” he said in a lengthy statement — adding that the couple had been planning to start a family.

Despite the snub, McCann said he was “heartbroken” for Robinson’s parents, Yolanda Endres and Harry Robinson.

The parents are yet to release a statement following the confirmation by police in Tanzania that they are closing the investigation into their daughter’s death.

They had previously said they did not believe Robinson would take her own life, and demanded further answers from authorities.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling.

If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.