New details have emerged following the unexpected death of Makenzi Kern, a close friend of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton's fiancée, Jade Jones. Kern died on June 8 while on a bachelorette trip to St. Barts, celebrating Jones' upcoming wedding, according to family members and reports published this week. She had turned 26 just two days earlier.
The tragedy unfolded during what friends described as a once-in-a-lifetime Caribbean getaway. According to Kern's obituary, she passed away from health complications while surrounded by friends on the island of St. Barthélemy. Furthermore, The New York Post reported that Kern's family does not believe foul play, alcohol, or drugs contributed to her death. The exact circumstances surrounding her death have not been publicly disclosed.
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Kern and Jones developed a close friendship while cheering together at Iowa State University, where Haliburton also played basketball before beginning his NBA career. The trip was intended to celebrate Jones and Haliburton's upcoming August 1 wedding.
Days before the tragedy, Jones shared photos from the vacation showing the group enjoying the beaches and boating excursions around St. Barts, captioning the post, "hopped on a flight to cloud 9."