Crypto fund founder Joe McCann questioned after fiancée dies in Zanzibar hotel

Police in Zanzibar are continuing to question crypto fund founder Joe McCann after the death of his fiancée during a vacation on the island.

NBC News reported that Ashly Robinson, 31, died in the hospital on April 9, a day after hotel staff found her unresponsive in her room. Tanzanian police have described the case as a suspected suicide but said inquiries remain ongoing, with McCann still under questioning.

Authorities told reporters that Robinson had been discovered with a belt around her neck, prompting hotel staff to alert management before she was rushed to the hospital. Officers also cited accounts from staff that the couple had a “misunderstanding” shortly before the incident and had been staying in separate rooms.

According to a CBS News report, McCann’s passport has been retained by police pending the outcome of an autopsy, a step that effectively prevents him from leaving the country while the investigation continues.

Family members have pushed back strongly against the official account. Robinson’s sister, Alyssa Endres, told NBC News, “none of this makes sense,” pointing to what she described as a period of happiness for Robinson following her recent birthday and engagement to McCann, which had taken place just days earlier.

Scrutiny falls on McCann as probe continues

Attention has also turned toward McCann’s professional background as authorities piece together the timeline surrounding the incident. He is known as the founder of Asymmetric, a crypto-focused hedge fund that has faced turbulence over the past year.

Asymmetric had adjusted its trading strategy in July after investor backlash tied to weak performance during a prolonged downturn in crypto markets. Earlier disclosures from McCann indicated the fund had lost as much as 80% over the course of the year, raising pressure from backers.

Plans linked to McCann to lead a Solana treasury firm into public markets through a merger were later shelved in August, though no formal explanation was provided at the time.

Investigators have not indicated any charges against McCann, and officials have maintained that the case remains under review as they await full forensic results.