Police in Zanzibar are holding the fiancé of US influencer Ashlee Jenae as investigations into her death deepens after she was found hanging in a hotel room days ago.
Authorities confirmed on April 14 that Joe McCann is in custody as part of ongoing inquiries, although officials have not announced any formal charges.
Speaking on the case, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations in Zanzibar, Zuberi Chembera said investigators are working with multiple agencies to establish the exact cause of death.
He confirmed that the body of Ashlee remains at Lumumba Hospital in Unguja, where a post-mortem examination is ongoing.
According to Chembera, new details have emerged about events leading up to the incident.
Hotel management reportedly received a complaint from a guest in room 24, who said they heard a heated argument coming from room 25, where Ashlee and her fiancé had been staying.
Following the complaint, hotel officials decided to separate the couple, moving McCann to another room number 65 located about an eight-minute walk away.
Police said that shortly before the incident, Ashlee had requested a charging cable from a hotel worker after experiencing issues with her own.
The staff member was asked to return after 10 minutes, but upon coming back, found her hanging using what authorities described as a cloth rope. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead.
Chembera also dismissed claims circulating online that Ashlee had been strangled, calling the reports unofficial and not issued by any competent authority. He stressed that investigations are still ongoing and urged the public to rely on verified information.
Authorities said the family of the deceased is being fully involved in the process, including coordination with representatives from a coroner’s office, who are expected to participate in the investigation with approval from the relevant embassy and family members.
