Lifestyle influencer Ashlee Jenae’s remains have finally made it back to U.S. soil, but for her heartbroken family, the journey toward truth is still just beginning.
Robinson, known online as Ashlee Jenae and born Ashly Robinson, was just 31 years old when she was found unresponsive at the Zuri Zanzibar, a luxury resort in Tanzania, on April 8. She had been there with her fiancé, Joe McCann, 45, to celebrate her birthday. Just four days before she was found, she had announced their engagement on Instagram, radiating excitement in a video that captured what seemed to be the start of a beautiful new chapter.
Now, as her family begins preparing a funeral in New Jersey, five crucial questions remain painfully unresolved.
Where are her personal belongings?
Her father, Harry Robinson, confirmed that her remains arrived in New Jersey on April 25, but none of her personal belongings came with them. The family has no clear timeline for when or even if those items will be returned, and they believe investigators may still be holding everything as part of the active probe.
What happened to her engagement ring?
Among the missing belongings is the engagement ring McCann had placed on her finger just days before her death. Its absence has deepened the heartbreak for a family already overwhelmed with grief and confusion. The ring remains unaccounted for, and no explanation has been offered to the family about its whereabouts.
What do the autopsies reveal?
The family commissioned an independent autopsy in addition to the official Tanzanian one, choosing not to wait passively for results that have been slow in coming. Both autopsies are still pending. Local reports in Tanzania suggested authorities were exploring suicide as a possibility, but Robinson’s family has firmly and consistently rejected that theory, describing her as a vibrant, joyful woman who showed absolutely no signs of wanting to harm herself.
What is McCann’s role in all of this?
McCann remains in Tanzania with his passport withheld by local authorities. As of April 25, no formal arrest has been made, but the investigation is very much ongoing. Robinson’s parents shared that she called them on April 8 to report a heated argument with McCann shortly before she was found. Hotel staff at the resort intervened and moved McCann to a separate villa. He has had little to no contact with Robinson’s family since her death.
Will the hotel surveillance footage tell the full story?
The family is still trying to obtain surveillance footage from the Zuri Zanzibar from the night of April 8, material they believe could be critical in piecing together Robinson’s final hours. They are even weighing a trip to Tanzania to meet with officials in person, unwilling to wait indefinitely for answers that keep not arriving.
In the meantime, supporters have rallied powerfully behind the family. A GoFundMe launched after Robinson’s death quickly surpassed its $50,000 goal, raising more than $63,000 to help with funeral and travel costs. Family friend and Los Angeles publicist Savannah Britt has been sharing updates on X, keeping Robinson’s loyal following informed as the family waits, grieves, and refuses to stop searching for the truth.
SOURCES: TMZ, TUKO