An island trip full of celebration turned tragic for Jade Jones, the fiancee of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, after one of her friends died suddenly.
Jones and several friends had been taking part in bachelorette getaway to the Caribbean island of St. Barts when Makenzi Kern, one of the partygoers, died unexpectedly from health complications on June 8.
TMZ reported that Kern had turned 26 years just two days before her tragic passing and that the circumstances around her death remain unclear.
The outlet did report that Kern’s family do not believe that foul play, drugs or alcohol contributed to her death.
Jones and Kern had posted several photos with each on Instagram in the past and reportedly became close friends during their time at Iowa State University, where they both were part of the cheerleading team.
Jones had shared a post on Instagram on June 6 from the tropical destination, with herself and several friends partying and enjoying the beach and Caribbean Sea. June 6 also happened to be Kern’s birthday and was two days before her death.
“Hopped on a flight to cloud 9,” the post was captioned.
Jones and Haliburton have not publicly commented about Jones’ death, though the Indiana Pacers all-star has posted an ad for watch brand Movado on his Instagram account on Monday.
What did Kern’s family say?
In an online obituary shared by Kern’s family, they wrote that she died while “surrounded by her closest friends on a once in a lifetime trip to St. Barthelemy Island.”
The obituary also described Kern as loving the water and that she had been enjoying the trip.
“She loved boating with her dad, water skiing, and got to try out a seabob for the first time in St Barths,” her family wrote. “According to her friends, they had to drag her off because she loved it so much, evidence that she was having an amazing time.”
It is unclear if Kern’s death will be investigated or if an autopsy will be performed.
According to RegistryFinder.com, Haliburton and Jones are set to be wed later this summer on Aug. 1.