A dream engagement trip to a luxury resort in Zanzibar ended in tragedy for 31-year-old South Jersey influencer Ashly Robinson, known online as Ashlee Jenae. Robinson was found dead in her villa just days after her fiancé proposed, and her devastated family says the circumstances feel anything but straightforward. As condolences and questions pour in across social media, authorities in Tanzania and U.S. officials are now under pressure to explain what happened inside that beachfront villa.
Police describe preliminary findings
Local police in Zanzibar say early evidence points to Robinson dying by self-inflicted hanging inside her villa before being taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. North Unguja Police Commander Benedict Mapujira told local media that hotel staff contacted authorities after what was described as a disturbance. Robinson’s body remains in Tanzania as officials carry out further examination, according to reporting from The Citizen.
Family rejects the suicide account
Robinson’s family is not accepting the suggestion that she died by suicide. Relatives have publicly called her death “suspicious” and say she had shown no sign of suicidal intent before leaving for the trip. Her parents told reporters that Robinson’s fiancé first called them saying she was in stable condition and then phoned again hours later to say she had died, a sequence they say they cannot reconcile. Their concerns and public statements were detailed by FOX 29.
Timeline where reports differ
According to a separate account from ABC News, Robinson and her fiancé had checked into the Zuri Zanzibar resort earlier in the week. Hotel staff reportedly separated the couple after an argument, and Robinson was later found unresponsive overnight from Thursday into Friday before being taken to a hospital. ABC reports that the fiancé has been questioned by police and that investigators temporarily held his passport as part of the inquiry. The U.S. State Department has confirmed the recent death of an American citizen in Zanzibar and said it is providing assistance to the family.
Investigators continue interviews
Authorities in Zanzibar say the investigation is active and that officers are interviewing hotel employees, guests and others who might help them piece together what happened. Regional police commanders told local outlets that while Robinson’s fiancé has been cooperating with investigators, he has not been arrested. They also cautioned that further questioning and evidence review are needed before any decision is made on possible legal action. Those statements were reported by The Citizen.
Friends and followers press for transparency
Back home and online, people who followed Robinson’s carefully curated life are struggling to square her recent celebratory posts with the abrupt news of her death. Friends, acquaintances and fans have taken to Instagram and X to demand a clear, documented timeline and the release of forensic findings, with some calling for “justice” as they share tributes and memories. That wave of public concern and calls for answers was noted by The Root.
What’s next
Robinson’s family says they are cooperating with officials as they push for a complete accounting of her final hours and work to bring her remains back to the United States. A GoFundMe has been launched to help cover related expenses. Local authorities and the U.S. Embassy say they are assisting with both the investigation and consular issues while police carry out more interviews and forensic work, according to ABC News. Investigators say their ultimate conclusions will hinge on forensic and toxicology results that have not yet been made public.
