Tanzania investigates death of American social media influencer


FILE PHOTO: Low tide is seen in Jambiani village, Zanzibar, Tanzania, February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Nicky Woo/File Photo

DAR ES SALAAM, ⁠April 15 (Reuters) - Police in Tanzania said they are ⁠questioning the fiancé of U.S. social media influencer ‌Ashly Robinson, who died after an alleged suicide attempt while the couple were on vacation in Zanzibar, a tourist hub off ​the east African country's mainland.

Police have ⁠confiscated the passport of ⁠her partner, Joseph Isaac McCann, 45, also a U.S. ⁠citizen, ‌they said in a statement issued late on Tuesday.

Robinson, 31, who is also known ⁠by her social media name Ashlee Jenae, ​and McCann arrived ‌in Zanzibar on April 4 and booked into ⁠a hotel.

They ​later moved to a second hotel where they "appeared to be having domestic conflicts," police said, citing hotel staff. ⁠Management subsequently separated the two into ​different rooms.

"According to reports, she attempted to hang herself using a clothing belt tied inside a wardrobe in Room ⁠25 of the hotel," the police statement said. She died in hospital on April 9 around 9 p.m. local time while receiving treatment.

"Investigations into the matter ​are ongoing, pending professional medical ⁠reports and forensic examination from doctors," police said. McCann ​has not been charged. Reuters was ‌not immediately able to contact ​his lawyer for comment.

(Reporting by Nuzulack Dausen; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Philippa Fletcher)

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