A suicide note was discovered in the bedroom of Food Network star Anne Burrell following her death in June 2025, according to a police report obtained by People magazine.
The New York City medical examiner's office had previously ruled the chef's death a suicide, citing “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine.” The new report from the New York Police Department reveals that a note and “suicidal” journal entries were found on the bed in the primary bedroom of her Brooklyn home.
On the morning of June 17, 2025, Burrell's husband, Stewart Claxton, noticed the bed was made, which was unusual. He found his wife on the bathroom floor surrounded by over-the-counter pills. Claxton attempted to wake her and called 911 when she was unresponsive. He told police that Burrell “never attempted suicide in the past” and “never talked about it.”
Burrell's death was initially investigated as a possible drug overdose. An internal document seen by The New York Times stated she was found “unconscious and unresponsive, surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills.”
The chef, known for hosting Worst Cooks in America, had recently appeared on the show House of Knives. She did not return for the new season of Worst Cooks in January 2025, and when asked by a fan on Instagram why she wasn't hosting, she replied: “Honestly I don’t know.”
In a statement, her family said: “Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered.” The Food Network also paid tribute, calling her “a remarkable person and culinary talent.”
