Ashlee Jenae Death Probe Continues as Fiancé Absent from Funeral

Ashlee Jenae’s funeral took place May 5 in New Jersey without her fiancé Joe McCann in attendance, as lingering questions about the influencer’s death—and McCann’s status in the investigation—continue to draw attention.

According to People, the service was held at Second Baptist Church in Paulsboro, where family and loved ones gathered to lay the 31-year-old influencer to rest nearly a month after she died during a trip to Zanzibar. Per TMZ, McCann, who had been with Ashlee Jenae on the trip, did not attend the funeral, having been barred from the service by her family. The family has also not spoken to McCann since Jenae’s death.

Authorities in Tanzania had previously withheld his passport while questioning him as a witness, and it remains unclear whether he has since been allowed to leave the country. However, as of this writing, he has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and he has not been charged with a crime.

Ashlee Jenae, whose legal name was Ashly Robinson, built a following of more than 88,000 on Instagram through travel, lifestyle, and beauty content. Her final posts captured what appeared to be a milestone moment—celebrating her 31st birthday and getting engaged during a safari proposal in Tanzania.

The trip, which included a stay at the Zuri Zanzibar resort, quickly became central to the investigation after her death.

Police in Zanzibar have said the couple had a dispute days before the incident, prompting hotel staff to move them into separate rooms “for the safety of each other.” Authorities later confirmed McCann was being questioned as a witness and emphasized that no arrests had been made.

In earlier statements, officials said they believed Ashlee Jenae died by suicide, though her family has continued to seek clarity around the timeline and circumstances.

In the weeks following her death, Ashlee Jenae’s parents launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral arrangements, travel, and related expenses. The fundraiser has raised more than $60,000, with over 1,200 contributors.

“As we grieve, we are also navigating an ongoing investigation and the challenges of being thousands of miles away while trying to bring Ashly home with dignity and seek answers,” her parents wrote on the page.

Ashlee Jenae was first found unresponsive in her villa in Zanzibar and was transported to a hospital, where she died the following day.