American tourist held in Zanzibar after fiancee dies following clashes – National
Zanzibar police have arrested an American citizen whose partner died in mysterious circumstances following an argument at the hotel where they were staying.
Joseph Isaac McCann, 45, was questioned by the police on Monday, four days after the death of his colleague, Ashly Robinson, 31, better known as Ashlee Jenae.
Zanzibar’s Deputy Director of Investigations, Zuberi Chembera, declined to comment on the case on Thursday, according to the Associated Press, saying the investigation is still ongoing. Investigators said they are holding McCann’s passport pending the results of Robinson’s autopsy, CBS News reported.
Police said witness accounts indicated that the couple arrived at the Zuri Hotel in Zanzibar on April 4 and had been arguing regularly until the night of April 8, when hotel management separated them and asked McCann to move to another place about 10 minutes away.
Hours later, a hotel employee found Robinson unresponsive in a closet with a belt around his neck, police said. He was taken to the hospital, where he died the next day.
Police in Zanzibar told the BBC that Robinson tried to kill himself.
The hotel, Zuri Zanzibar, told the BBC it was “deeply saddened by the tragic incident involving one of our guests.”
The hotel said it was cooperating with authorities and the US embassy but would not comment further, citing privacy concerns.
McCann had not released a public statement at the time of writing and no arrests have been made. Zanzibar police earlier told the media that investigators had found no “crime” and that McCann had not been arrested, saying the circumstances described by police were “not compatible with legal action.”
Robinson shared a number of social media posts from his journey, including his last post on April 5, which featured a giraffe as he mourned his 31st birthday.
“Chapter 31 and I’m where I’m supposed to be,” she captioned it.
Robinson’s family wants answers
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In a statement posted on Instagram, Robinson’s family said their daughter was “on what should have been one of the happiest journeys of her life.”
“She and her fiance, Joe McCann, were staying in a luxurious house in Zuri Zanzibar, going on what they believed to be her dream trip. But a few days later, that dream turned into our family’s worst nightmare. Ashly was found unconscious in her house and rushed to a local hospital, where she was confirmed dead a few hours later,” the family wrote.
“Suddenness, unanswered questions, and being away from home made this tragedy even more difficult for our family,” they continued. “There is currently an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of Ashly’s suspicious death, although we have many questions, we are putting our trust in the Zanzibar authorities and are working closely with them as we seek clarity and answers.”
The family also requested that “any information not provided directly to our family be considered unverified and cannot be considered true at this time.”
Robinson’s parents spoke to ABC News from Delaware and said they have not received clear information from the Tanzanian authorities or the McCanns about what happened to their daughter.
“My daughter Ashly, she is no longer here with us, and we are trying to find out why,” said her mother, Yolanda Denise Endres.
“Uncertainty. Mystery. Anger. Sadness. It’s like a part of me has been taken away,” said his father, Harry Robinson.
According to her family, Robinson was celebrating her birthday with her boyfriend of one year, who she got engaged to two days ago.
“He was starting the next chapter of his life. He called us on FaceTime to share his journey and his vacation,” said Endres.
His mother said Robinson called them on April 8 and told them that he and McCann had gotten into an argument and were taken to separate rooms.
The next day, Endres said he received a call from McCann who told him that “Ashly did something to her and she was taken to the hospital.”
“He told me he was stable. I told him what happened, he told me 11 hours had passed,” he added.
Hours after speaking with McCann, Endres said the hotel where the couple was staying informed them that Robinson had died.
“Joe went back to the room with the guards, that’s how they found him,” said Endres.
Robinson’s mother said her daughter “never did anything that would make me believe she would do something to hurt herself like that.”
The family said they have contacted many people, including the police, the embassy and the embassy, but they have not received any further information about his death as it is under investigation.
Robinson’s family has asked for photos to be viewed at the resort.
Robinson’s sister, Alyssa Endres, told NBC News that “none of this makes sense.”
“That’s why we’re so lost, that’s why we want answers,” he added.
Robinson’s family has created a GoFundMe to try to “bring Ashly home with dignity and seek answers.”
“This fund responds to those who ask how they can help and will support travel expenses, preparations, and unexpected expenses during this time,” Robinson’s parents wrote in a statement.
As of Thursday afternoon, the GoFundMe page had raised more than US$53,000 of its $50,000 goal.
The South African Human Rights Association is calling on the Tanzanian government to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances of Robinson’s death.
In a statement, the group said Robinson’s family “deserves answers, and they deserve them through a process that is independent, transparent, and without the appearance of impropriety.”
“When the family of the deceased is disputing the cause of death, the duty of thorough investigation is not optional,” said Saad Kassis-Mohamed, chairman of the Human Rights Association.
The organization is calling for the release of the full autopsy and toxicology findings, as well as urging the United States to play an active role.
“The death of an American citizen abroad under disputed circumstances warrants diplomatic cooperation at the highest level, and the family should not be required to face the complexities of the foreign legal system without the full support of their government,” the organization said.
– Via files from the Associated Press
