Family seeks answers after New Jersey woman found dead while on vacation in Zanzibar
Share this @internewscast.com

In a heart-wrenching search for truth, the family of a New Jersey woman is seeking answers surrounding her untimely death on the island of Zanzibar, Tanzania. The international spotlight has turned to the mysterious circumstances facing the loved ones of Ashly Robinson, as they navigate the opaque responses from Tanzanian officials and her fiancé.

“My daughter Ashly is no longer with us,” expressed Yolanda Denise Endres, Robinson’s mother, as she grapples with the lack of clarity surrounding the tragic event. The questions left unanswered have only deepened the family’s sorrow.

Her father, Harry Robinson, shared the emotional turmoil that has engulfed their lives. “Uncertainty. Mystery. Anger. Sadness. It’s like a part of me has been taken,” he lamented, highlighting the profound impact of his daughter’s sudden passing.

Ashly Robinson, who was widely recognized online as Ashlee Jenae, had ventured to Zanzibar to celebrate her 31st birthday on April 5. The trip was a significant milestone, as her boyfriend of one year had proposed just two days before the incident, marking a new beginning in her life.

Ashly Robinson
Ashly RobinsonInstagram / @ashleejenae

“She was starting the next chapter of her life,” Endres recalled, noting how her daughter had shared the joyous moments of her travels and vacation through FaceTime. The family now clings to these memories as they seek desperately to understand the events that led to her demise.

“She was starting the next chapter of her life. She called us to FaceTime us to share with us her travel and her vacation,” Endres said.

Less than a week later, she was dead. Her mother said Robinson called on April 8 to say she and her fiancé had argued and were moved to separate rooms.

The next day, Endres said she received a call from the fiancé.

“He told me that Ashly did something to herself and she was being taken to the hospital, and he told me she was stable,” Endres said. “I said what happened, and he told me, it had been 11 hours prior.”

Hours later, the hotel where the couple was staying notified the family that Robinson had died.

According to a hospital medical report, Robinson had an unidentified mark around her neck. The report states that her fiancé “found she hung herself on the door.”

“Sometimes Joe went back to the room with security, and that’s how they found her,” said the woman’s father.

Robinson was later taken to a second hospital, which listed her cause of death as cerebral hypoxia by strangulation and suffocation.

“She’s never done anything that would ever ever lead me to believe that she would do something to harm herself like that. She was happy,” Endres said.

The family says they have contacted police, the consulate, and the embassy, but have not received additional information beyond confirmation that the death remains under investigation. They have also requested surveillance footage from the resort.

“She was loved. She was not just going to be discarded and forgotten about,” Endres said.

The family says they are considering traveling to Zanzibar to seek answers. Attempts to contact Robinson’s fiancé, the resort and the embassy were unsuccessful.

Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Woman's body found floating in Long Island Sound

Body of Woman Discovered in Long Island Sound

On Monday evening, a tragic discovery was made in the Long Island…
Roblox changes rules for young users as California-based company faces lawsuits

Roblox Updates Policies for Young Users Amid Ongoing California Lawsuits

Roblox is intensifying its safety measures, but some argue it might be…
14-year-old charged with murder of 12-year-old in Atlanta home shooting, police say

14-Year-Old Accused in Fatal Shooting of 12-Year-Old at Atlanta Residence, Authorities Report

A young boy, just 12 years old, was tragically shot while in…
JD Vance accuses Iran of ‘economic terrorism’ over its blocking of Hormuz Strait, says ball is in Tehran’s court 

JD Vance Slams Iran’s ‘Economic Terrorism’ Over Hormuz Strait Blockade – What’s Next for Tehran?

Vice President Vance has accused Iran of engaging in “economic terrorism” due…
Molotov cocktail attack on Sam Altman's home sparks fears of copycat strikes against tech executives

Molotov Cocktail Attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s Residence Raises Concerns Over Security for Tech Leaders

The early morning Molotov cocktail attack targeting Sam Altman’s residence in San…
Jon Stewart reacts to uncanny resemblance Trump's Jesus meme: 'Am I okay?'

Jon Stewart’s Hilarious Take on Viral Trump-Jesus Meme: “Is This Real Life?

WASHINGTON — On Monday evening, comedian Jon Stewart was taken aback after…
Disgraced ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore to learn if he's going to jail

Former Michigan Coach Sherrone Moore Awaits Sentencing Decision

The former Michigan football head coach, Sherrone Moore, who has been embroiled…
Monster typhoon in the Pacific Ocean is bearing down on group of remote US islands

Massive Pacific Typhoon Threatens Remote US Islands with Devastating Impact

A powerful super typhoon is on a collision course with several remote…
Gen Z hacker Matthew Lane 'thankful that I got caught' after PowerSchool student data breach impacts thousands in Chicago area

Chicago Schools Data Breach: Gen Z Hacker Matthew Lane Expresses Gratitude for Being Caught

A significant data breach has compromised the personal information of thousands of…
Camp Mystic official says he didn't see flood warnings issued the day before storm hit

Camp Mystic’s Unforeseen Flood: Why Crucial Warnings Went Unnoticed

The tragic events at a Texas summer camp in 2025, where 27…
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas resigns after bipartisan calls for expulsion, admitting to sexual misconduct

Texas Representative Tony Gonzales Resigns Amid Bipartisan Expulsion Calls Following Admission of Sexual Misconduct

WASHINGTON — Republican Representative Tony Gonzales from Texas has stepped down from…
Sid Krofft, 'H.R. Pufnstuf' creator and children's TV visionary, dies at 96

Children’s TV Pioneer and ‘H.R. Pufnstuf’ Creator Sid Krofft Passes Away at 96

Sid Krofft, the visionary entertainer from Canada who, alongside his brother Marty,…