New details are shedding light on the final hours of Food Network star Anne Burrell, revealing troubling clues about what the celebrity chef may have been going through before her sudden death.
Burrell, the fiery personality known for hosting Worst Cooks in America, was found dead in her Brooklyn home on June 17 at the age of 55. According to a police report, investigators later discovered a handwritten note dated the morning of her death, along with personal journal entries that painted a deeply emotional picture of her final days.
The grim discovery was made by Burrell’s husband, Stuart Claxton.
Authorities say Claxton called 911 after finding his wife unresponsive in the bathroom of their home early that morning. The couple had been married for nearly four years.
But before finding her, Claxton reportedly noticed something strange inside their bedroom.
According to the police report, the bed had been carefully made — something investigators said was unusual — and Burrell’s personal journal entries had been left sitting on top of it. The writings reportedly contained deeply troubling reflections that suggested she had been struggling internally.
Investigators also located a note dated the same morning in the bedroom.
The unsettling scene reportedly raised alarm for Claxton, who then went looking for his wife elsewhere in the house.
He eventually found her in the bathroom, where authorities say she was surrounded by several over-the-counter medications scattered on the floor.
According to the report, Claxton tried desperately to wake her. He shook her and even slapped her face in an attempt to get a response.
When she did not wake up, he called 911 around 7:50 a.m.
During the call, Claxton reportedly told the dispatcher he believed his wife might have gone into cardiac arrest. He told authorities he had last seen her alive around 1 a.m. and said she had never previously talked about harming herself or shown signs she might be in danger.
In a frantic effort to help, Claxton reportedly attempted CPR while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
Despite those efforts, Burrell could not be revived.
A medical examiner later confirmed the tragic cause of death as suicide.
According to the official findings, Burrell died after ingesting a mixture of substances including alcohol and several medications. The toxicology report listed ethanol, diphenhydramine, cetirizine and amphetamine.
In the weeks following her death, sources close to the celebrity chef said she had been quietly struggling with anxiety and uncertainty about her career.
Burrell had recently stepped away from her longtime role on Worst Cooks in America and was reportedly exploring new opportunities, including taking acting and improv classes.
In a heartbreaking twist, she had performed in an improv show just hours before her death.
Friends say Burrell had been navigating a period of transition and self-doubt as she considered what the next chapter of her career might look like.
Despite those private struggles, loved ones say the Anne Burrell they remember is the vibrant, energetic chef who brought humor and passion to kitchens across America.
“Her smile lit up every room she entered,” her family said in a statement. “Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit and boundless love remain eternal.”
For fans who watched her fiery personality on television for years, the new details about her final hours offer a heartbreaking glimpse into the private struggles she kept hidden from the public eye.