Zanzibar police are holding Joe McCann, a crypto trader and founder of hedge fund Asymmetric, for questioning after his fiancée, 31-year-old Ashly Robinson, was found in her hotel room on April 8 and died in hospital on April 9. Tanzanian authorities have ruled the death a suicide but continue to interview McCann; CBS News reported police have retained his passport pending autopsy results.
Police told reporters hotel staff reported a “misunderstanding” between the couple and that they were separated, with McCann moved to another room. A hotel worker later found Robinson unresponsive with a belt around her neck and alerted management before she was taken to hospital.
Robinson’s family has disputed the police account. Her sister, Alyssa Endres, told NBC News, “none of this makes sense,” saying Robinson had been happy after celebrating her birthday and a recent engagement to McCann only days earlier.
McCann founded crypto venture and hedge fund Asymmetric. The firm changed its trading strategy in July 2025 after investor backlash over poor performance during an extended period of crypto-market volatility. A planned merger to take a Solana treasury company public, which McCann would have led, was reportedly called off in August; McCann had previously said the fund lost about 80% that year. He could not be reached for comment.
This summary is based on reporting from NBC News and CBS News. Officials say the investigation and autopsy are ongoing; readers should follow official updates for further developments.