Ashlee Jenae was found unresponsive during a birthday trip to Tanzania with her fiancé, Joe McCann, earlier this month.
Authorities in Zanzibar, Tanzania, have since detained McCann for questioning as they continue to look into her sudden passing. His passport has been seized, and while police consider him a key witness in the case, he has not been charged with any crime and is not being treated as a suspect, according to CBS News.
Jenae had traveled to Tanzania with McCann to celebrate her 31st birthday. She was discovered unresponsive inside their villa and rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death is still ongoing, and McCann has yet to make any public statement.
On Sunday, her family confirmed her passing in an official statement. “Nothing about this loss feels real. One moment she was celebrating love and life in truly Ashly fashion, and the next, she was gone. The suddenness, the unanswered questions, and the distance from home have made this tragedy even more overwhelming for our family,” they shared. “At this time, there is an active investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ashly’s suspicious passing. Although we have many questions, we are placing our trust in the officials in Zanzibar and are working closely with them as we seek clarity and answers.”
They added: “We respectfully ask that any information not directly provided by our family be treated as unverified and not considered factual at this time.”
Ashlee Jenae’s parents have also spoken with CBS News about the heartbreaking situation. During the interview, they revealed that Joe McCann was the one who allegedly notified them that she had been hospitalized. They also shared plans to travel to Tanzania themselves in hopes of getting a clearer understanding of what really happened.
In the meantime, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign, aiming to raise $50,000 to cover travel, arrangements, and other unexpected costs. So far, the fundraiser has brought in $40,000 in donations.
