In April 2026, influencer Ashlee Jenae, whose real name was Ashly Robinson, died at a luxury resort in Tanzania during what began as a birthday trip with her fiancé, Joe McCann, and later became an engagement getaway. According to Tanzanian police, a hotel employee found her unconscious in her room after receiving no response at the door. She was discovered hanging from the clothing rail in the closet with a robe belt provided by the hotel. She was taken to the hospital but died on April 9, 2026.
Investigators concluded that the immediate cause of death was cerebral hypoxia caused by strangulation and suffocation, and that the manner of death was suicide. Police in Zanzibar said she had been suffering from suicidal depression for months. The findings came amid public speculation about the circumstances of her death, including concerns raised by some people about an alleged disagreement with McCann during the trip.
Zanzibar Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation Zuberi Chembera said investigators also found that Jenae had used ChatGPT in the weeks before her death to search for information related to suicide. One reported message asked, “How much Valium would kill me?” Investigators said additional messages sent to family and friends reflected depression and, in some cases, sounded like farewell notes.
The case has drawn attention because of the role investigators say an AI chatbot played in her final days, adding to broader concerns about how such tools may be used by vulnerable people in crisis. The death has also prompted discussion about the responsibility of technology platforms when users seek harmful guidance.
Jenae’s death has left family, friends, and followers grieving, while investigators continue to document the sequence of events leading up to the tragedy. Her case underscores the dangers of untreated mental health struggles and the importance of timely intervention when someone shows signs of suicidal thinking.
