Jade Jones was all smiles with her crew in St. Barths until one friend’s sudden passing turned the celebration into heartbreak. Makenzi Kern, 26, died June 8 from health complications with no foul play suspected. The Iowa State cheer squad alum stayed close with Jones long after their Cyclone days.
Photos from the early June trip showed the group posing by the pool and beach, balloons spelling out “Bride” and drinks in hand. Jones captioned one post “hopped on a flight to Cloud 9.” The posts stopped around June 6, two days before Kern’s passing.
Kern’s obituary noted she was “surrounded by her closest friends on a once in a lifetime trip to St. Barths” and praised her goofy spirit that “could brighten everyone’s spirits.” She had just turned 24 two days earlier.
Sources close to the situation told TMZ Sports the family is distraught and ruled out drugs or alcohol. Jones, Tyrese Haliburton and the rest of the bridal party have yet to comment on the loss.
