Tafari Campbell: Police say nothing suspicious with chef’s drowning as Obama daughters leave island
Massachusetts Police have said that there is “no evidence” of anything “suspicious” with the drowning death of the Barack Obama’s personal chef Tafari Campbell.
Campbell, 45, tragically died in a paddleboarding accident in the water close to the former president’s home in Martha’s Vineyard on Sunday night.
Police in Edgartown, Massachusetts, confirmed on Monday morning that his body had been recovered from the town’s Great Pond.
Campbell had worked for the Obamas at the White House and then joined the family as their personal chef afterwards. Police said Barack and Michelle Obama were not at home when Campbell died but were on the island.
Their daughters Sasha and Malia were spotted leaving Martha’s Vineyard after the tragedy.
“Tafari was a beloved part of our family,” the Obamas said in a statement on Monday.
“When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together.
“In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.
“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone.”
In an update on Tuesday, Massachusetts Police said that “he was not wearing a personal flotation device and was not leashed to the paddle board” when he fell into the water.
He was with a fellow paddle boarder – who has not been named – who tried to help but could not reach him in time, police said.
“The other paddleboarder then swam to shore and notified a person on shore of what had happened,” police said.
“That person placed a 911 call to the Dukes County Regional Emergency Communications Center, which initiated an immediate emergency search and rescue response by numerous public safety agencies.”
Key points
Obama’s personal chef Tafari Campbell dies off coast of ex-president’s home
Obamas pay tribute to ‘part of our family’ following death
Who is Tafari Campbell?
Conspiracy theorists flock to widow's Instagram page
Dead man named as Obama employee from Virginia
Monday 24 July 2023 23:02 , Io Dodds
Police have named the paddleboarder as Tafari Campbell, 45, an employee of Mr Obama who was visiting Martha’s Vineyard at the time of his death.
In a statement released just now, the state police said Mr Campbell hailed from Dumfries, Virginia, adding that neither Mr Obama nor his wife Michelle were at home when he died.
Obamas mourn ‘a beloved part of our family’
Monday 24 July 2023 23:18 , Io Dodds
The Obama family have issued a statement mourning Tafari Campbell, according to the The Chicago Sun-Times.
The newspaper identified Campbell as Mr Obama’s personal chef, who had cooked for him at the White House during his time as president and then went on to work for the family afterwards.
“Tafari was a beloved part of our family," the Obamas said. "When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House — creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together.
"In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.
“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone.
"Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari — especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin — in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man.”
Pictured: Tafari Campbell at the White House
Tuesday 25 July 2023 00:11 , Io Dodds
Here’s a picture of Tafari Campbell during his time as a chef at the White House, courtesy of former Associated Press photographer Ron Edmonds.
'The first alcohol brewed on White House grounds'
Tuesday 25 July 2023 00:45 , Io Dodds
Campbell previously had a brush with public fame in 2012 when he helped brew a series of ales using honey from the beehives set up by Michelle Obama on the White House's South Lawn.
"As far as we know, the White House Honey Brown Ale is the first alcohol brewed or distilled on the White House grounds," said a statement from the then President’s office.
"George Washington brewed beer and distilled whiskey at Mount Vernon, and Thomas Jefferson made wine, but there's no evidence that any beer has been brewed in the White House. Although we do know there was some drinking during prohibition..."
A petition to release the recipe gained around 12,000 signatures, leading the White House to acquiesce.
Instagram photos show loving husband proud of his craft
Tuesday 25 July 2023 01:55 , Io Dodds
Campbell's Instagram account is that of a man who took great pride in his craft, enjoyed golfing and improving his fitness, and loved his family.
Interspersed between numerous photos of elegantly-presented dishes, from Chinese dumplings to peach-flavoured mini bread puddings, there are numerous snapshots of him with his wife Sherise, who runs a baking and catering firm and whom Campbell frequently described as his "best friend".
One photo showed the young couple's wedding way back in 1999, with the caption "happy 21st anniversary!!!!"
Others showed them seeing 2018's smash hit film Black Panther, eating at a restaurant, and at the beach on holiday in Aruba.
Some of the food pictures are artfully arranged so that they form one larger photo on Instagram's grid-like feed.
Campbell may have only recently learned to swim
Tuesday 25 July 2023 02:38 , Io Dodds
Videos and comments on Campbell's Instagram page suggest that he may only have learned to swim, or to swim confidently, in the last five years or so.
Under one holiday snap from October 2017, showing Campbell and his wife Sherise standing chest deep in crystal-blue waters in Aruba, one follower asked: "But can you swim though? Lol."
Campbell responded with a "weary face" emoji, suggesting frustration or lamenting. The Independent has contacted that person for comment.
A pair of videos posted about a year and four months later showed him practicing various swimming strokes over beginner distances, with the hashtags "#Progress" and "#survivalskills".
Sherise Campbell says she is 'heartbroken'
Tuesday 25 July 2023 03:44 , Io Dodds
Campbell's wife Sherise Campbell, also a professional cook, has reacted to her husband's death with one word: "Heartbroken."
Mrs Campbell posted the brief message on her Instagram page on Monday evening, along with smiling pictures of her husband.
A 'spectacular' estate in the playground of America's wealthy
Tuesday 25 July 2023 03:44 , Io Dodds
The Obamas’ estate in Martha’s Vineyard was bought in 2020 for a $11.75 million, following years of annual holidays to the coveted island getaway.
According to People magazine, the house itself measures 6,892 sq ft and sits at the heart of 29 acres of land, with seven bedrooms, eight baths, several stone fireplaces, and a boathouse.
LandVest, the luxury real estate firm that handled the sale, describes it as “the perfect family compound “setting for generations to come”, citing its “spacious and dramatic living room”, “private sun deck”, and spectacular water views” of the Great Pond.
Martha's Vineyard is a 96 square mile island south of Cape Cod in New England that has been a popular summer haunt for America's moneyed elite since the 19th century, although its all-year residents make less money on average than the rest of Massachusetts.
Instagram videos show golfing, deadlifting
Tuesday 25 July 2023 04:50 , Io Dodds
Campbell was also a keen amateur golfer, according to his Instagram account.
One video showed him practicing his swing, asking followers to judge his form with one of two options: “Chef, you ready” and “Stick to cheffing!!”
Other videos showed him deadlifting weights and cycling alone during the early Covid-19 pandemic, recording his journeys with a GoPro camera.
Everything we know so far
Tuesday 25 July 2023 07:07 , Anuj Pant
Here's a roundup of everything we know so far, by Io Dodds and Andrea Blanco.
Emergency services were called to the Obama residence around 7.40pm on Sunday, with a witness telling officers that they had seen another paddleboarder sink underwater after struggling to stay on the surface.
Divers and boats with sonar were brought in to aid the search, leading to the recovery of the paddleboarder's body on Monday morning.
That afternoon, police named the man as 45-year-old Tafari Campbell, who had worked as a personal chef to the Obama family during their time in the White House and continued to work for them after Barack Obama left office.
Read their full story here.
Old White House video shows Campbell brewing beer
Tuesday 25 July 2023 07:52 , Io Dodds
A video has emerged showing Tafari Campbell brewing beer for Barack Obama back in 2012, thought to be the first time any president has brewed alcohol on the actual White House grounds.
"You don't want to go too fast, creating a lot of air, which will make the beer taste bad," Campbell tells the camera as he siphons liquid into a container in a video posted to YouTube that year.
The part featuring Campbell himself starts around 1m54.
Conspiracy theorists flock to widow's Instagram page
Tuesday 25 July 2023 08:59 , Io Dodds
All too predictably, the conspiracy theories have already begun.
On Monday night an Instagram post by Tafari Campbell's wife Sherise had been inundated with comments groundlessly claiming that the chef had been murdered by Barack Obama.
"Sorry for your loss, but Obama did it," said one. "Your partner worked for some very evil people," said another. One used the hashtag #ObamaBodyCount, referring to long-running smears against the Obama and Clinton families.
There were numerous similar posts on Twitter, and in far right channels on the chat app Telegram.
Perhaps this should go without saying, but there is absolutely no reason at this time to think that Campbell was murdered. Police have not given any sign that they suspect foul play, instead citing witness testimony suggesting that Campbell drowned by accident.
Unfortunately, a lack of evidence has never prevented the USA's first Black president from being a magnet for conspiracy theories, especially in the post-Trump era where such fantasies have become obligatory on many parts of the American right.
Obamas mourn ‘truly wonderful man’
Tuesday 25 July 2023 10:11 , Io Dodds
The Obamas have paid tribute to their longtime personal chef, describing him as "a beloved part of our family".
"When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together," the family said.
"In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter."
Read my full story, and the Obamas' full statement, here.
Obamas pay tribute to personal chef who died while paddleboarding near family mansion
ICYMI: Everything we know so far
Tuesday 25 July 2023 11:00 , Anuj Pant
In case you missed it earlier, here's a roundup of everything we know so far, by Io Dodds and Andrea Blanco.
Emergency services were called to the Obama residence around 7.40pm on Sunday, with a witness telling officers that they had seen another paddleboarder sink underwater after struggling to stay on the surface.
Divers and boats with sonar were brought in to aid the search, leading to the recovery of the paddleboarder's body on Monday morning.
That afternoon, police named the man as 45-year-old Tafari Campbell, who had worked as a personal chef to the Obama family during their time in the White House and continued to work for them after Barack Obama left office.
Read their full story here.
Tafari Campbell’s wife posts heartbreaking tribute
Tuesday 25 July 2023 11:45 , Rachel Sharp
Tafari Campbell’s wife posted a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram after his body was found off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard on Monday.
Sherise Campbell shared an image of her husband smiling with the caption: “Heartbroken.”
Who was Tafari Campbell?
Tuesday 25 July 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp
Campbell’s name was already familiar to aides, journalists and other people who had worked in and around the Obama White House between 2008 and 2016.
As a longtime chef to America’s 44th president, he had appeared in photos taken by the Associated Press and in a YouTube video posted by Mr Obama’s staff.
“Tafari was a beloved part of our family,” the Obamas said in a statement on Monday.
“When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together.
“In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.
“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone.”
Tafari Campbell, pictured on the South Lawn of the White House in November 2008
A video posted by the then president’s office in 2012 showed Campbell brewing beer using honey from the beehive Michelle Obama had set up on the building’s South Lawn, thought to be the first time anyone has brewed or distilled alcohol on the actual White House premises.
“You don’t want to go too fast, creating a lot of air, which will make the beer taste bad,” Campbell said on camera as he siphoned liquid into a container in a video posted to YouTube that year.
Tafari Campbell’s Instagram posts suggest he may only have recently learned to swim confidently
Tuesday 25 July 2023 13:15 , Rachel Sharp
Some of Tafari Campbell’s Instagram posts suggested he may only have learned to swim, or to swim confidently, within the last five years or so.
In October 2017, he posted a photo showing him and his wife Sherise standing chest deep in crystal-blue waters in Aruba, with the hashtag “#stillcantswim”. One follower asked: “But can you swim though? Lol.”
Campbell responded with a “weary face” emoji, suggesting frustration or lamenting. The Independent has contacted that person for comment.
WATCH: Obama family’s chef Tafari Campbell found dead in Martha’s Vineyard
Tuesday 25 July 2023 14:00 , Rachel Sharp
Everything we know so far
Tuesday 25 July 2023 15:17 , Oliver O'Connell
Here’s a roundup of everything we know so far, by Io Dodds and Andrea Blanco.
Emergency services were called to the Obama residence around 7.40pm on Sunday, with a witness telling officers that they had seen another paddleboarder sink underwater after struggling to stay on the surface.
Divers and boats with sonar were brought in to aid the search, leading to the recovery of the paddleboarder’s body on Monday morning.
That afternoon, police named the man as 45-year-old Tafari Campbell, who had worked as a personal chef to the Obama family during their time in the White House and continued to work for them after Barack Obama left office.
Read their full story here.
Old White House video shows Campbell brewing beer
Tuesday 25 July 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell
A video has emerged showing Tafari Campbell brewing beer for Barack Obama back in 2012, thought to be the first time any president has brewed alcohol on the actual White House grounds.
“You don’t want to go too fast, creating a lot of air, which will make the beer taste bad,” Campbell tells the camera as he siphons liquid into a container in a video posted to YouTube that year.
The part featuring Campbell himself starts around 1m54.
Conspiracy theorists flock to widow’s Instagram page
Tuesday 25 July 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell
All too predictably, the conspiracy theories have already begun.
On Monday night an Instagram post by Tafari Campbell‘s wife Sherise had been inundated with comments groundlessly claiming that the chef had been murdered by Barack Obama.
“Sorry for your loss, but Obama did it,” said one. “Your partner worked for some very evil people,” said another. One used the hashtag #ObamaBodyCount, referring to long-running smears against the Obama and Clinton families.
There were numerous similar posts on Twitter, and in far right channels on the chat app Telegram.
Perhaps this should go without saying, but there is absolutely no reason at this time to think that Campbell was murdered. Police have not given any sign that they suspect foul play, instead citing witness testimony suggesting that Campbell drowned by accident.
Unfortunately, a lack of evidence has never prevented the USA’s first Black president from being a magnet for conspiracy theories, especially in the post-Trump era where such fantasies have become obligatory on many parts of the American right.
Obamas mourn ‘truly wonderful man’
Tuesday 25 July 2023 18:00 , Io Dodds
The Obamas have paid tribute to their longtime personal chef, describing him as “a beloved part of our family”.
“When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together,” the family said.
“In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.”
Read my full story, and the Obamas’ full statement, here.
Grieving Obamas were in Martha’s Vineyard when chef drowned at their home
Tuesday 25 July 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Tuesday 25 July 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Barack Obama and his family have paid tribute to the former president’s longtime personal chef after he died while paddleboarding near their home in Martha’s Vineyard.
Tafari Campbell, 45, from Virginia, was found dead in the water near the Obama family’s mansion on Monday morning, about a hundred feet from shore.
Police told local media that they were called to the Obama house on Sunday night by reports of a man paddleboarding who slipped under the water after a “brief struggle” to stay on the surface.
Mr Campbell had cooked for the Obamas during their eight years in the White House and then continued to work for them after Mr Obama left office in 2016.
Tuesday 25 July 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell
“Tafari was a beloved part of our family,” the Obamas said. “When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House — creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together.
“In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.
“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone.
“Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari — especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin — in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man.
Tuesday 25 July 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Massachusetts State Police said on Monday that neither the former president nor former first lady Michelle were at the home at the time of the tragedy.
However, The Office of Barack and Michelle Obama later clarified that they were in Martha’s Vineyard at the time but were just not at the home when the tragedy unfolded.
The Independent has contacted the Obamas’ office for more details.
Tuesday 25 July 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell
On Sunday evening, police were called after Campbell was seen struggling in the water while paddleboarding near the former first family’s home, state police said.
Following an overnight search, his body was found just before 10am on Monday around 100 feet from the shore of Edgartown’s Great Pond.
An investigation has been launched into his death.
Campbell’s wife Sherise also paid tribute to her husband, writing on social media that her life is “forever changed” following his death.
“My heart is broken,” she wrote.
“My life and our family’s life is forever changed. Please pray for me and our families as I deal with the loss of my husband.. @cheftafari.”
Tuesday 25 July 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Campbell, 45, previously had a brush with public fame in 2012 when he helped brew a series of ales using honey from the beehives set up by Michelle Obama on the White House’s South Lawn.
“As far as we know, the White House Honey Brown Ale is the first alcohol brewed or distilled on the White House grounds,” said a statement from Mr Obama’s office at the time.
The recipe was released to the public after a petition to do so gained around 12,000 signatures.
‘Our hearts are broken’: Grieving Obamas were in Martha’s Vineyard when chef drowned at their home
Wednesday 26 July 2023 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Barack Obama and his family have paid tribute to the former president’s longtime personal chef after he died while paddleboarding near their home in Martha’s Vineyard.
Tafari Campbell, 45, from Virginia, was found dead in the water near the Obama family’s mansion on Monday morning, about a hundred feet from shore.
Grieving Obamas were in Martha’s Vineyard when chef drowned at their home
Capitol riot suspect arrested near Obama’s Washington home had guns, machete in his van, feds say
Wednesday 26 July 2023 04:15 , Oliver O'Connell
A man arrested near former President Barack Obama‘s Washington home on charges in the U.S. Capitol riot had two guns, 400 rounds of ammunition as well as a machete in his van, a federal prosecutor said Friday.
Taylor Taranto, 37, was arrested Thursday after being spotted a few blocks from the former president’s home and chased by U.S. Secret Service agents. Court documents unsealed Friday show Taranto is charged with four misdemeanors related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, including disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.
Read more...
Jan. 6 suspect arrested near Obama's Washington home had guns, machete in his van, feds say
Tafari Campbell: What we know about Obama chef and loving husband
Wednesday 26 July 2023 06:15 , Oliver O'Connell
The search for a missing paddleboarder near the Obamas’ mansion in Martha’s Vineyard ended in tragedy when a dead body in the water was identified as the family’s longtime personal chef.
On Monday 24 July, Massachusetts police named Tafari Campbell, 45, from Virginia, as the man who had perished the previous evening while paddleboarding on Edgartown Great Pond, a large costal pool connected to the Atlantic Ocean.
Campbell had cooked for Barack Obama and his family during their time in the White House and continued to work for them as a personal chef after Mr Obama left office in 2016.
The Obama family described Campbell as “a truly wonderful man”, while his wife Sherise Campbell said she was “heartbroken”.
Here’s everything we know about the case.
What we know about the tragic death of Obama’s personal chef Tafari Campbell
What happened to Tafari Campbell?
Wednesday 26 July 2023 07:45 , Oliver O'Connell
First responders were first alerted of the emergency at around 7.40pm on Sunday, when they were called to the Obama family’s country estate by reports of a drowning man.
The property is a roughly 7,000 sq ft mansion surrounded by 30 acres of land near Turkeyland Cove on Martha’s Vineyard, a large island south of Cape Cod in New England that has been a popular summer haunt for America’s moneyed elite since the 19th century.
Mr Obama purchased the house for approximately $11.75m in 2019.
Officials from Edgartown Fire, State Police patrols, Air Wing and the Dukes County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the scene. A witness who was paddleboarding with the man said he had gone underwater after struggling to stay on the surface, and never come back up.
Wednesday 26 July 2023 09:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Flight crews, dive teams and boat crews wielding side-scan sonar joined the search, with aerial support from the US Coast Guard (USCG). The victim’s paddle board and hat were found later that day.
On Monday morning, the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said in a statement that the search was paused to “assess [the] next steps”, before adding that afternoon that they had found a body at around 10am on Monday.
The police search was conducted by divers and boat crews employing side-scan sonar technology and aerial support from the MSP and USCG helicopter crews, its statement said.
“The recovery was made approximately 100 feet from shore at a depth of about eight feet,” MSP said. “The investigation into the fatality is being conducted by the State Police Detective Unit for the Cape and Islands District and Edgartown Police.”
Finally, on Monday evening, MSP named the deceased as 45-year-old Tafari Campbell from Dumfries, Virginia, saying he was a longtime employee of the Obamas and that neither Mr Obama nor his wife Michelle were home at the time of his death.
A cause of death has not been confirmed, but a press release by the law enforcement agency was tagged as a “drowning” on its website.
Who was Tafari Campbell?
Wednesday 26 July 2023 09:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Campbell’s name was already familiar to aides, journalists and other people who had worked in and around the Obama White House between 2008 and 2016.
As a longtime chef to America’s 44th president, he had appeared in photos taken by the Associated Press and in a YouTube video posted by Mr Obama’s staff.
“Tafari was a beloved part of our family,” the Obamas said in a statement on Monday.
“When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together.
“In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.
“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone.”
A video posted by the then president’s office in 2012 showed Campbell brewing beer using honey from the beehive Michelle Obama had set up on the building’s South Lawn, thought to be the first time anyone has brewed or distilled alcohol on the actual White House premises.
“You don’t want to go too fast, creating a lot of air, which will make the beer taste bad,” Campbell said on camera as he siphoned liquid into a container in a video posted to YouTube that year.
Massachusetts State Police give update on Tafari Campbell death
Wednesday 26 July 2023 10:45 , Rachel Sharp
“The investigation into the death of Tafari Campbell, 45, of Virginia, who was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond on Monday, as well as an initial post-mortem examination by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, found no evidence that the death was suspicious,” Massachusetts State Police said in an update on Tuesday.
“The on-scene observation of the victim by State Police personnel and the post-mortem examination by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed no external trauma or injuries.
“An interview of the paddle boarder who was with Mr Campbell indicates that Mr Campbell was standing on his paddle board, lost his balance and fell into the water, then struggled to stay afloat but could not do so.
“He was not wearing a personal flotation device and was not leashed to the paddle board. The fellow paddle boarder tried to swim to Mr Campbell’s location but did not reach him in time.
“The other paddle boarder then swam to shore and notified a person on shore of what had happened. That person placed a 911 call to the Dukes County Regional Emergency Communications Center, which initiated an immediate emergency search and rescue response by numerous public safety agencies.
“The police investigation and post-mortem examination is completed except for receipt of toxicology results, which is a standard procedure in all autopsies that generally takes several weeks to complete.
“Barring any further significant developments, which are not expected at this time, the State Police will provide no further updates on Mr Campbell’s tragic passing.”
What do we know about Tafari Campbell’s life?
Wednesday 26 July 2023 11:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Campbell’s Instagram account is that of a man who took great pride in his craft, enjoyed golfing and improving his fitness, and loved his family.
Interspersed between numerous photos of elegantly-presented dishes, from Chinese dumplings to peach-flavoured mini bread puddings, there are numerous snapshots of him with his wife Sherise, who runs a baking and catering firm and whom Campbell frequently described as his “best friend”.
One photo showed the young couple’s wedding back in 1999, with the caption “happy 21st anniversary!!!!”
Others showed them seeing 2018’s smash hit Black Panther, eating at a restaurant and at the beach on holiday in Aruba.
There are also a few pictures of Campbell with his twin sons, who are now 19 years old.
About a year and a half later, two videos showed Campbell practicing various swimming strokes over beginner distances, with the hashtags “#Progress” and “#survivalskills”.
Workers at the Edgartown Meat and Fish Market told The Daily Mail that Campbell was “a wonderful guy” who visited regularly to chat about what he was cooking or make special orders of orange juice and strawberry lemonade.
“We saw him last week, he was such a nice and happy guy,” one staff member said. “He didn’t seem to live here but would be here a lot in summer and fall, and bought various things.
“He was nice and quiet; it’s awful to hear that’s happened to him.”
On her own Instagram account on Monday night, Sherise reacted to her husband’s death with one word: “Heartbroken.”
‘Our hearts are broken’: Grieving Obamas were in Martha’s Vineyard when chef drowned at their home
Wednesday 26 July 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Barack Obama and his family have paid tribute to the former president’s longtime personal chef after he died while paddleboarding near their home in Martha’s Vineyard.
Tafari Campbell, 45, from Virginia, was found dead in the water near the Obama family’s mansion on Monday morning, about a hundred feet from shore.
Io Dodds reports.
Grieving Obamas were in Martha’s Vineyard when chef drowned at their home
WATCH: 911 dispatch audio captures Obama chef's death
Wednesday 26 July 2023 14:14 , Andrea Blanco
Tafari Campbell was standing on paddleboard when he lost balance, police say
Wednesday 26 July 2023 15:18 , Andrea Blanco
Massachusetts State Police said on Tuesday that an autopsy found no evidence that the death was suspicious and no trauma or injuries were found on Campbell’s body. A paddle-boarder who was at the pond with Campbell when the tragedy unfolded told law enforcement that the late chef was standing on his paddleboard when he lost balance.
“He was not wearing a personal flotation device and was not leashed to the paddleboard. The fellow paddle boarder tried to swim to Mr Campbell’s location but did not reach him in time,” the update read. “The other paddle boarder then swam to shore and notified a person on shore of what had happened.”
MSP said no other updates are expected at this time except for standard toxicology results that are protocol in all autopsies and may take several weeks.
Old White House video shows Campbell brewing beer
Wednesday 26 July 2023 16:26 , Andrea Blanco
A video has emerged showing Tafari Campbell brewing beer for Barack Obama back in 2012, thought to be the first time any president has brewed alcohol on the actual White House grounds.
“You don’t want to go too fast, creating a lot of air, which will make the beer taste bad,” Campbell tells the camera as he siphons liquid into a container in a video posted to YouTube that year.
Who was Tafari Campbell?
Wednesday 26 July 2023 17:25 , Andrea Blanco
Campbell’s Instagram account is that of a man who took great pride in his craft, enjoyed golfing and improving his fitness, and loved his family.
Interspersed between numerous photos of elegantly-presented dishes, from Chinese dumplings to peach-flavoured mini bread puddings, there are numerous snapshots of him with his wife Sherise, who runs a baking and catering firm and whom Campbell frequently described as his “best friend”.
One photo showed the young couple’s wedding back in 1999, with the caption “happy 21st anniversary!!!!”
Others showed them seeing 2018’s smash hit Black Panther, eating at a restaurant and at the beach on holiday in Aruba.
There are also a few pictures of Campbell with his twin sons, who are now 19 years old.
Massachusetts State Police give update on Tafari Campbell death
Wednesday 26 July 2023 18:55 , Andrea Blanco
“The investigation into the death of Tafari Campbell, 45, of Virginia, who was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond on Monday, as well as an initial post-mortem examination by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, found no evidence that the death was suspicious,” Massachusetts State Police said in an update on Tuesday.
“The on-scene observation of the victim by State Police personnel and the post-mortem examination by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed no external trauma or injuries.
“An interview of the paddle boarder who was with Mr Campbell indicates that Mr Campbell was standing on his paddle board, lost his balance and fell into the water, then struggled to stay afloat but could not do so.
“He was not wearing a personal flotation device and was not leashed to the paddle board. The fellow paddle boarder tried to swim to Mr Campbell’s location but did not reach him in time.
“The other paddle boarder then swam to shore and notified a person on shore of what had happened. That person placed a 911 call to the Dukes County Regional Emergency Communications Center, which initiated an immediate emergency search and rescue response by numerous public safety agencies.
“The police investigation and post-mortem examination is completed except for receipt of toxicology results, which is a standard procedure in all autopsies that generally takes several weeks to complete.
“Barring any further significant developments, which are not expected at this time, the State Police will provide no further updates on Mr Campbell’s tragic passing.”
Flight crews, dive teams and boat crews wielding side-scan sonar joined the search
Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:18 , Andrea Blanco
On Monday morning, the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said in a statement that the search was paused to “assess [the] next steps”, before adding that afternoon that they had found a body at around 10am on Monday.
The police search was conducted by divers and boat crews employing side-scan sonar technology and aerial support from the MSP and USCG helicopter crews, its statement said.
“The recovery was made approximately 100 feet from shore at a depth of about eight feet,” MSP said. “The investigation into the fatality is being conducted by the State Police Detective Unit for the Cape and Islands District and Edgartown Police.”
Finally, on Monday evening, MSP named the deceased as 45-year-old Tafari Campbell from Dumfries, Virginia, saying he was a longtime employee of the Obamas and that neither Mr Obama nor his wife Michelle were home at the time of his death.
A cause of death has not been confirmed, but a press release by the law enforcement agency was tagged as a “drowning” on its website.
Three questions remain unanswered
Wednesday 26 July 2023 21:19 , Andrea Blanco
Martha’s Vineyard authorities say they’ve found no suspicious evidence in the drowning death of Cambell near the Obama family’s estate. But several key details about the circumstances have not been explained.
The Independent’s Joe Sommerlad reports:
Three unanswered questions in the drowning of Obama chef Tafari Campbell
How did Tafari Campbell drown?
Wednesday 26 July 2023 22:17 , Joe Sommerlad
Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said on Tuesday they had concluded that Campbell was “standing on his paddleboard, lost his balance and fell into the water, then struggled to stay afloat but could not do so”.
The MSP added that the deceased “was not wearing a personal flotation device and was not leashed to the paddleboard” at the time of the accident, suggesting he may simply have been overwhelmed by the waves, regardless of his capabilities as a swimmer.
The MSP added in its update that an autopsy had found no evidence that Campbell’s death was suspicious and no trauma or injuries were found on his body.
Police said no other updates are expected except for standard toxicology results, which are protocol in all autopsies and may take several weeks to complete.
Questions have been asked, however, about just how experienced Campbell was in the water after it was noticed that a number of his Instagram posts suggested he may only have learned to swim, or to swim confidently, within the last five years or so.
In October 2017, he posted a photo showing him and his wife standing chest deep in the sea off Aruba, with the hashtag “#stillcantswim”. One follower asked: “But can you swim though? Lol.” Campbell responded with a “weary face” emoji, suggesting frustration or lamenting.
The Independent has contacted that person for comment.
A pair of videos posted about a year and four months later showed him practising various swimming strokes over beginner distances, with the hashtags “#Progress” and “#survivalskills”.
Tafari Campbell was not tethered to paddleboard when he fell in water
Wednesday 26 July 2023 23:00 , Andrea Blanco
Massachusetts State Police said on Tuesday that an autopsy found no evidence that the death was suspicious and no trauma or injuries were found on Campbell’s body. A paddle-boarder who was at the pond with Campbell when the tragedy unfolded told law enforcement that the late chef was standing on his paddleboard when he lost balance.
“He was not wearing a personal flotation device and was not leashed to the paddleboard. The fellow paddle boarder tried to swim to Mr Campbell’s location but did not reach him in time,” the update read. “The other paddle boarder then swam to shore and notified a person on shore of what had happened.”
MSP said no other updates are expected at this time except for standard toxicology results that are protocol in all autopsies and may take several weeks.
Key details about Tafari Campbell’s death that remain unanswered
Thursday 27 July 2023 00:30 , Joe Sommerlad
Several questions remain unanswered days after Tafari Campbell, who worked as a personal chef to Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, drowned in a tragic paddleboarding accident on the island of Martha’s Vineyard off Massachusetts.
The 45-year-old from Dumfries, Virginia, had served the 44th US president during his tenure at the White House between 2008 and 2016 and accepted an invitation to stay on with the family when Mr Obama stepped down to make way for Donald Trump at the end of his second term in January 2017.
There are several key details we do not yet know about the circumstances of the beloved chef’s death.
Three unanswered questions in the drowning of Obama chef Tafari Campbell
Who was Tafari Campbell?
02:00 , Andrea Blanco
Campbell’s name was already familiar to aides, journalists and other people who had worked in and around the Obama White House between 2008 and 2016.
As a longtime chef to America’s 44th president, he had appeared in photos taken by the Associated Press and in a YouTube video posted by Mr Obama’s staff.
“Tafari was a beloved part of our family,” the Obamas said in a statement on Monday.
“When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together.
“In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.
“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone.”
Tafari Campbell, pictured on the South Lawn of the White House in November 2008
A video posted by the then president’s office in 2012 showed Campbell brewing beer using honey from the beehive Michelle Obama had set up on the building’s South Lawn, thought to be the first time anyone has brewed or distilled alcohol on the actual White House premises.
“You don’t want to go too fast, creating a lot of air, which will make the beer taste bad,” Campbell said on camera as he siphoned liquid into a container in a video posted to YouTube that year.
WATCH: Tafari Campbell brews beer at the White House
04:00 , Andrea Blanco
Late chef’s wife pays tribute to him
05:30 , Andrea Blanco
Campbell’s wife Sherise has paid tribute to her husband, writing on social media that her life is “forever changed” following his death.
“My heart is broken,” she wrote.
“My life and our family’s life is forever changed. Please pray for me and our families as I deal with the loss of my husband.. @cheftafari.”
Tafari Campbell was former president’s personal chef
07:00 , Andrea Blanco
“Tafari was a beloved part of our family,” said the Obama family on Monday evening. “When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House — creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together.
“In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.
“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone.
“Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari — especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin — in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man.”
Tafari Campbell’s death labelled ‘not suspicious’
08:30 , Andrea Blanco
Massachusetts State Police said on Tuesday that an autopsy found no evidence that the death was suspicious and no trauma or injuries were found on Campbell’s body.
A paddleboarder who was at the pond with Campbell when the tragedy unfolded told law enforcement that the late chef was standing on his paddleboard when he lost balance.
“He was not wearing a personal flotation device and was not leashed to the paddleboard. The fellow paddle boarder tried to swim to Mr Campbell’s location but did not reach him in time,” the police update stated. “The other paddle boarder then swam to shore and notified a person on shore of what had happened.”
MSP said no other updates are expected at this time except for standard toxicology results that are protocol in all autopsies and may take several weeks.
Grieving Obamas were in Martha’s Vineyard when chef drowned at their home
10:00 , Andrea Blanco
Barack Obama and his family have paid tribute to the former president’s longtime personal chef after he died while paddleboarding near their home in Martha’s Vineyard.
Tafari Campbell, 45, from Virginia, was found dead in the water near the Obama family’s mansion on Monday morning, about a hundred feet from shore.
Police told local media that they were called to the Obama house on Sunday night by reports of a man paddleboarding who slipped under the water after a “brief struggle” to stay on the surface.
Who was the witness to the tragedy and the 911 caller?
12:30 , Joe Sommerlad
A second person who has not been named was with Campbell when the disaster unfolded, according to the MSP.
“The fellow paddleboarder tried to swim to Mr Campbell’s location but did not reach him in time,” the latest update read.
“The other paddleboarder then swam to shore and notified a person on shore of what had happened. That person placed a 911 call to the Dukes County Regional Emergency Communications Center, which initiated an immediate emergency search and rescue response by numerous public safety agencies.”
The caller has also not yet been named, although the Daily Mail has reported the call came from within the Obamas house without citing a source.
911 dispatch audio captures report of Campbell’s accident
