Police in Alabama are seeking to establish the circumstances surrounding the death of TikTok creator Riziki Ilenre, as widespread questions and concerns continue to circulate on social media. The Montgomery Police Department has confirmed it is investigating Ilenre’s December 12 death, following a surge of online concern and speculation from fans who claim she was the victim of intense online bullying before her death. TMZ reported that Ilenre may have died on a TikTok livestream after multiple fans said they believed that to be the case.

While Montgomery Police did not comment on the suspicions, a Change.org petition was recently started urging legislators to approve the Riziki Ilenre Act, which aims to make it easier for victims to report online abuse and calls for harsher punishment for cyberbullying. The petition organizer also claimed that Ilenre had “endured relentless harassment from various creators on TikTok.”

Ilenre, who was originally from Georgia, was studying law at the Illinois Institute of Technology and was 27 at the time of her death. She also worked with a local ministry, where she served as a social media director, photographer, and intern.

Since her untimely passing, tributes have poured in from members of the ministry, Church Without Walls. One such tribute read:

“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,” said Walter D’Andre Green. She was brilliant, driven, and fearless in thought. 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.”

Green went on to describe Ilenre as his “spiritual” daughter and said that her death “hurts” deeply.

Another member, Shawnetta Green, spoke about how she received a voicemail from Ilenre in January 2024 and said she has never deleted it.

“I listened to that message today. You weren’t singing my praises… It was just a regular message. A message with you being you… and that was enough. It was always enough.”

On her now-deleted TikTok account, Ilenre rose to fame for her comedic videos, but she did not shy away from speaking out about her mental health struggles and her disability.

In Ilenre’s last Facebook post in March, she shared throwback pictures of her holiday in the Bahamas. She also frequently posted about her love for her service dog, Chief. In December 2023, Ilenre described her pooch as goofy and incredible. When sharing a picture of the dog sitting by her, she wrote:

“While most of Chief’s supportive actions go unrecorded during difficult moments, this picture highlights his intuitive understanding of my needs.”

While little is known about her family, the much-loved dog was clearly a special part of Ilenre’s life, and she said that he “gently reminded [her] to remain present with a reassuring paw on [her] shoe.”

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A spokesperson for the Montgomery Police Department has stated that the investigation into Ilenre’s death is “ongoing,” and there is no further information available at this time.