Cause of Death for Influencer Riziki Ilenre, 27, Revealed

NEED TO KNOW

• A cause of death has been revealed for influencer Riziki Ilenre after her death on Dec. 12

• The 27-year-old internet personality was known by her 5,000 TikTok followers under the username “sincerelynaija”

• A spokesperson for the Montgomery Police Department in Alabama previously confirmed to PEOPLE that there was an “ongoing investigation” surrounding her death

A cause of death has been revealed for influencer Riziki Ilenre after her death on Dec. 12.

The 27-year-old internet personality — known by her 5,000 TikTok followers under the username “sincerelynaija” — died from asphyxia due to hanging, and her death was ruled a suicide, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences confirmed to PEOPLE. The department also said that her body contained evidence of “previous self-harm” and that she had a “reported history of depression and previous suicide attempts.”

A spokesperson for the Montgomery Police Department in Alabama previously confirmed to PEOPLE that there was an “ongoing investigation” surrounding her death.

The creator was known for her comedic videos on the platform, though her profile appeared to be taken down after her death. She also regularly shared photos and videos of her service dog Chief, whom she called her “superhero” in a 2023 Facebook post, adding that he helped her “during difficult moments.”

After her death, Ilenre’s church, Church Without Walls, based in Carrollton, Ga., remembered her in a tribute post as “someone deeply loved and deeply valued.”

“She was part of our ministry family, a bright and brilliant young woman, full of purpose, faith, and promise. She served faithfully, graduated college, and was pursuing her dream of law school. Her future was meaningful, and her life mattered,” the church wrote on Facebook. “This is not a moment for speculation or easy answers. This is a moment for grieving, compassion, and love. Scripture reminds us that even Jesus paused to weep in the face of loss, and today, our community weeps. Today, we mourn.”

Church Without Walls apostle Walter D’Andre Green separately shared a tribute on his Facebook account, describing Ilenre as his “daughter — not biologically, but absolutely spiritually.”

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“I had the privilege of watching her grow from an awkward sophomore in college into a young woman preparing to take on the world as a law student. She was brilliant, driven, and fearless in thought,” he penned. “One thing about Rizi — she loved to debate. She thrived in apologetics and theological discourse, and I think that’s part of why we were so close. She loved truth, and she wasn’t afraid to wrestle with it.

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Read the original article on People