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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Politics
Manuel Demegillo

How Did Anne Burrell Die? NYPD Releases Photos and CCTV Footage From Chef's Final Hours

Details surrounding Anne Burrell's cause of death are revealed in chilling new photos taken inside her home.

The NYPD provided new information about Anne Burrell's death, including images of a dish littered with dozens of pills near her toilet. Bottles of Advil, Zyrtec, Motrin and a ValueMeds antihistamine were also toppled sideways on her bathroom floor, People reported.

Released on 31 March, the photos paint a chilling backdrop to Burrell's tragic passing at 55. Her death was ruled a suicide in July 2025, following investigations.

Anne Burrell's Cause of Death Confirmed

The city fire department went to Burrell's residence at 7:50am on 17 June 2025, responding to a report of cardiac arrest. The medical examiner said she suffered from 'acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine' as the cause of death.

NYPD confirmed finding a 'suicidal note' and 'suicidal' journal entries in Burrell's primary bedroom in the aftermath, per a report obtained by People last March. New footage also showed Burrell and her husband, Stuart Claxton, outside their home on the night of 16 June 2025.

Anne Burrell's Final Hours Captured in Footage

In one video, the couple is seen entering their Brooklyn flat's exterior gate. Another video showed them waiting for the building lobby's lift, with Burrell leaning against the wall. In another footage taken from inside the lift, it appeared that Burrell was about to tell her husband before stopping herself.

In the morning of 17 June, the NYPD received a call from someone 'married to Anne,' who 'noticed that the bed was made in their room which is not normal.'

Burrell was reportedly found in the bathroom 'with a bunch of over-the-counter pills on the floor.' The caller 'shook' Burrell and 'slapped' her in the face in an attempt to wake her, but she remained unresponsive.

Burrell had never attempted suicide in the past, Claxton told investigators. She 'never talked about it' nor showed 'any signs that she would do something like this,' he confirmed in the police report.

An Accomplished Career as a Celebrity Chef

Burrell's career was highlighted by appearances in Iron Chef America, Worst Cooks in America, and Secrets of a Restaurant Chef. The night before she died, she was with friends onstage at The Second City in Brooklyn, doing comedy improv.

Longtime 'Food Network' colleague Duff Goldman recalled helping Burrell through a tough time, by baking her a cake with an inspirational message that read, 'Don't let the b*st*rds win.'.

'I've written and re-written this post so many times in the past 24 hours, and I just don't know what to say,' Goldman wrote on Instagram two days after her death. He said their last conversation was about the merits of catfish. 'I believe the words "trash fish," "tastes like mud," and "cake boy" were used, haha,' he quipped.

Burrell is survived by Claxton and his son, Javier. Her family remembers her as 'a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend' in a statement. 'Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.'

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