The drowning death of a former White House chef who was working for the Obama family has been ruled an accident by the Massachusetts police, Media Take Out confirmed. The mysterious death of Tafari Campbell, 45, opened up wide speculation across Black Twitter – that some foul play may have occurred.
![](https://mediatakeout.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Screen-Shot-2023-08-25-at-9.17.04-AM-1-838x1024.png)
But now officials have shut down those theories. A spokesperson with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security told the media, including Media Take Out, that Tafari was found dead last month in Edgartown Great Pond on the south shore of Martha’s Vineyard, state police said.
According to the official report, Tafari was paddleboarding the night before and was reported missing after he went into the water and didn’t resurface.
The report stated that Tafari went “into the water, appeared to briefly struggle to stay on the surface, and then submerged and did not resurface.” Another paddleboarder on the pond with him witnessed him go under the water, according to the release.
Campbell “was employed by former President Obama and was visiting Martha’s Vineyard at the time of his passing,” state police said.
The Obamas were not at their Martha’s Vineyard residence at the time of the incident, according to police.