Police have released photos from the scene of celebrity chef Anne Burrell’s passing.
The tragedy was initially investigated by the New York Police Department as a possible OD, as Anne was found “surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills.”
After conducting an autopsy, the New York City medical examiner’s office concluded that she had taken her own life.
Police have released images from the scene of celebrity chef Anne Burrell’s passing
Image credits: Desiree Navarro/WireImage
Trigger warning: This article contains details that some readers may find distressing.
According to an NYPD report, in the early morning hours of June 17, 2025, an individual “married to Anne,” an apparent reference to her husband, Stuart Claxton, “noticed that the bed was made in their room, which is not normal.”
Stuart then found Anne on the bathroom floor “with a bunch of over-the-counter pills.”
The photos obtained by People on Tuesday (March 31), which were not made public, reportedly show pills in a dish near the toilet bowl, as well as bottles of Advil, Zyrtec, Motrin, and a ValuMeds allergy-relief antihistamine lying on the bathroom floor.
Additionally, another photo shows discarded cig*rettes on the floor along with a lighter.
People also analyzed videos shared by the NYPD in which Anne and Stuart can be seen arriving home hours before the tragedy.
In the footage, the couple walks through their Brooklyn apartment complex’s exterior gate and enters the building lobby.
Anne was 55 years old when her husband, Stuart Claxton, found her unresponsive in the bathroom
Image credits: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
The chef can be seen leaning against a wall while they wait for the elevator. Once inside, she reportedly leans her back against the wall and crosses her hands.
While Stuart is talking, Anne turns her head away from him and stares at the elevator wall as he gestures toward her. She then appears to be about to say something, but stops herself, as per the outlet.
According to an NYPD report, an investigator found a “s*icidal note” in the main bedroom of Anne’s home following the tragedy.
They also discovered “s*icidal” journal entries in the same room.
Stuart, a marketing executive who had been married to Anne for four years, told police that she had “never attempted” to take her own life and “never talked about it.” He added that the 55-year-old hadn’t shown “any signs that she would do something like this.”
Police said an individual, believed to be Stuart, called 911 at 7:50 a.m, concerned that Anne had suffered a heart attack.
Before calling 911, he had attempted to wake her by “shaking her and slapping her face,” according to the police report. Paramedics later pronounced her “deceased on scene.”
Anne was known for her multiple shows on the Food Network, including Worst Cooks in America
Image credits: chefanneburrell
The official cause of Anne’s passing was specified as “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine.”
Diphenhydramine and cetirizine are antihistamines (medications that treat allergy symptoms or digestive conditions). Ethanol is a compound found in alc*hol, and amphetamine is commonly used to treat ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).
One of Anne’s friends told Page Six that the Worst Cooks In America host “struggled” and “wasn’t totally happy” despite her multiple projects and seemingly upbeat personality.
The source said Anne suffered from loneliness and fears of substance dependency after growing up “in a situation with alc*holism.”
“She had, like the rest of us, demons,” they said. “She didn’t let me in too much. [As a TV star], you have so many high moments. In private, you’re going to have a letdown.”
The celebrity chef had expressed interest in exploring pursuits beyond cooking
Image credits: FoodNetwork
Anne, who cited her mother’s homemade meals and the legendary chef Julia Child as inspirations for her career, appeared in a number of TV shows, including Worst Cooks In America, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, Chef Wanted, Chopped, and House of Knives.
She also published two New York Times best-selling cookbooks: Cook Like a Rock Star and Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire & Empower.
The Food Network, where Anne’s shows aired, described her as a “beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend” whose “smile lit up every room she entered.”
“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,” their tribute read.
On social media, fans continue to mourn Anne’s loss and celebrate her legacy. “I’m so sorry, Anne. I loved watching you on the Food Network,” one person wrote.
“I wish it was complete privacy for this but at the same time it educates us that we never know what people are going through,” noted another.
Anne had reportedly performed at a comedy club hours before the tragedy
The case has also attracted conspiracy theories, with some individuals calling for a more in-depth investigation. “Look more into the husband. Some stuff doesn’t add up in my opinion,” read one comment.
“It’s still heartbreaking for me,” shared an additional fan. “I adored Chef Anne long before Worst Cooks in America…going back to when she did Secrets of a Restaurant Chef. She had that spark that could steal the show.”
The night before the tragedy, Anne reportedly performed at improv comedy club The Second City in Brooklyn.
During a podcast interview in 2024, the Food Network star shared that she wanted to explore other projects beyond cooking and was “dipping her toe” in acting.
“I can cook, yes, I can do TV, but also, what else? I’ve got more to do in my life,” she said.
The celebrity chef is survived by Stuart and his son, Javier, as well as her mother, Marlene, her sister, Jane, Jane’s children Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas, and her brother, Ben.
If you or someone you know is struggling with self-destructive thoughts, help is available. International hotlines provide support and resources.
“You never know how much pain someone is in. Please be kind,” one netizen commented
