Joe McCann, founder of crypto-focused fund Asymmetric, is still being questioned by police in Zanzibar after the death of his fiancée, Ashly Robinson, 31, during a vacation on the island. The investigation remains open, with an autopsy still pending.
NBC News reported that Robinson died in a hospital on April 9, one day after hotel staff found her unresponsive in her room. Tanzanian police have described the case as a suspected suicide, but said inquiries are ongoing and McCann remains under questioning.
Passport held as investigators wait for forensic findings
Authorities told reporters that Robinson was found with a belt around her neck. Hotel staff alerted management before she was taken to the hospital. Police also cited statements from staff saying the couple had a “misunderstanding” shortly before the incident and had been staying in separate rooms.
CBS News reported that McCann’s passport has been retained by police pending the autopsy result. That step effectively prevents him from leaving the country while the investigation continues.
Family rejects the initial account
Robinson’s relatives have publicly challenged the official narrative. Her sister, Alyssa Endres, told NBC News that “none of this makes sense,” adding that Robinson had been in good spirits after celebrating her birthday and getting engaged to McCann only days earlier.
Investigators have not indicated that McCann has been charged. Officials have said only that the case is still under review as they await full forensic results.
McCann’s business record has also drawn attention
As the probe continues, scrutiny has widened to McCann’s professional background in crypto. He is known for founding Asymmetric, a hedge fund focused on digital assets that ran into difficulties over the past year.
Earlier disclosures from McCann showed the fund had lost as much as 80% over the course of the year. In July, Asymmetric changed its trading approach after investor backlash tied to weak performance during a prolonged downturn in crypto markets.
Separate plans linked to McCann to take a Solana treasury firm public through a merger were later shelved in August. No formal explanation was given at the time.