Friend of Pacers star Tyrese Haliburtonâs fiancĂŠe dies during bachelorette trip two days after 26th birthday
A dream bachelorette trip to St. Barts ended in tragedy for the fiancĂŠe of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton after one of her friends died during the getaway days after her 26th birthday.
Haliburtonâs fiancĂŠe, Jade Jones, was on the Caribbean island celebrating her upcoming marriage to the two-time NBA All-Star with close friends when one of them, Makenzi Kern, died unexpectedly from health complications on June 8, sources told TMZ.
Her family does not believe foul play, drugs or alcohol contributed to her death, according to the outlet.
The circumstances surrounding Kernâs death remain unclear.
Kern and Jones became close friends while cheering together at Iowa State University, TMZ reported.
Jones posted several photos to Instagram on June 6, showing the group soaking up the sun on the beaches of St. Barts and enjoying a boat ride, with the caption âhopped on a flight to cloud 9.â
Kern had just turned 26 on the day the photos were posted â two days before her death.
Neither Haliburton nor Jones has publicly commented on the tragedy.
Kernâs family said that she died while âsurrounded by her closest friends on a once in a lifetime trip to St. Barthelemy Island,â according to an online obituary.
âShe loved boating with her dad, water skiing, and got to try out a seabob for the first time in St Barths. According to her friends, they had to drag her off because she loved it so much, evidence that she was having an amazing time,â her family wrote.
The 26-year-old Iowa native is remembered by her loved ones as someone who âlived life to the fullestâ and âcould brighten everyoneâs spirits when she was around.â
Kern earned her bachelorâs degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Iowa State University in 2022 and was working as a Membership Director for a YMCA in Omaha at the time of her death.
âKenz was dedicated to her job, her friends and her beloved pets; especially her cat Dusty. She never wanting to let anyone down or upset them,â her obituary said.
âSo much so even as a child she would let all of the kids on the playground go down the slide first saying âyou go first, Iâll get a turn later.’â
Kern is survived by her parents, stepparents, sister, stepsiblings, grandparents and her boyfriend.
Jones and Haliburton have been together for more than seven years, a relationship that began during his time as a guard for the Iowa State Cyclones.
Haliburton was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2020 before being traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2022.
The couple is expected to tie the knot on Aug. 1, according to an online wedding registry.




