A Tragic Trip in Tanzania: A Couple, a Hotel Room, and Unanswered Questions

A 31‑year‑old woman named Ashly Robinson, who went by “Ashlee Jenae, ” was found dead in a hotel room in Tanzania last week. She had been traveling with her boyfriend, Joe McCann, the founder of a crypto company called Asymmetric Financial. Two days before she died, Joe had proposed to her, and photos from their trip showed a happy couple enjoying a luxury resort that charges about $950 per night. The family of Ashly told local news that she had called them via FaceTime to share her vacation plans. Her mother, Yolanda Endres, said she was excited about the next chapter of her life and that she had been sharing travel updates. Her father, Harry Robinson, recalled that Joe had returned to the hotel room with security after a disagreement and that is when Ashly was discovered. According to statements posted by Joe on social media, the Tanzanian authorities said Ashly died from hanging. He claimed she had taken her own life and that a mark was found around her neck. The family, however, says they were not informed until 11 hours after Joe’s call to them. They also reported that a hospital record mentioned an unidentified mark and listed the cause of death as cerebral hypoxia due to strangulation and suffocation.Ashly’s relatives are skeptical. Her mother said she was never in a place where she would harm herself and that the family had been told she was “stable” after Joe’s call. Friends of Ashly posted on social media demanding answers, saying she would never commit suicide and that the circumstances were unbelievable. One friend noted Joe had not posted any tribute or photo of Ashly on his social media, although he did share investment updates on the same day as her birthday. The family has contacted police, the consulate and the embassy but have not received further details. They are planning a trip to Zanzibar to find out more. The case remains under investigation. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, help is available. You can call or text 988 to connect with trained counselors in the U. S.