Authorities discovered a “suicidal note” in the bedroom of Food Network star Anne Burrell’s Brooklyn home last June after she was found dead at age 55.
A New York City medical examiner determined in late July that the beloved chef, known for “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” and “Worst Cooks in America,” died by suicide in the early hours of June 17. Her death was attributed to the “combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine and amphetamine.” Diphenhydramine and cetirizine are commonly found in over-the-counter antihistamines.
A New York Police Department report, obtained Wednesday by People, identified a “suicidal note” and “suicidal” journal entries in Burrell’s main bedroom after her death.
Burrell’s husband, Stuart Claxton — to whom she’d been married since October 2021 and who was identified in the report as a redacted name “married to Anne” — told NYPD that she had “never attempted suicide in the past.” Claxton also said Burrell had never displayed “any signs that she would do something like this,” per People.
Claxton reportedly told NYPD he’d known something was wrong when he saw their “bed … made in their room which is not normal,” before ultimately discovering Burrell unresponsive on the bathroom floor. He also found her “with a bunch of over the counter pills.”
An internal NYPD document previously cited by The New York Times said Burrell was “surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills” at the time she was found.
Representatives for Burrell did not immediately respond to the Daily News’ request for comment.
