New photographs released by the New York Police Department (NYPD) have revealed a scene strewn with dozens of pills and empty medicine bottles at the Brooklyn home where Food Network star Anne Burrell died. The images, shared with People magazine, show a dish containing multiple pills near a toilet, as well as sideways bottles of Advil, Zyrtec, Motrin, and a ValuMeds allergy-relief antihistamine on the bathroom floor.
Further images depict discarded cigarette butts alongside a lighter. The NYPD also released video footage from the night of Burrell's death, showing her and her husband, Stuart Claxton, walking through the exterior gate and entering the lobby of their apartment building. In the elevator, Burrell leans against the wall, crossing her hands and turning her head away from her husband as he speaks.
Burrell was found unconscious on the bathroom floor by her husband in the early hours of 17 June 2025. She was pronounced dead at the scene. In July, the medical examiner ruled her death a suicide, citing acute intoxication from the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine.
According to the police report, a suicidal note was discovered in the primary bedroom, along with suicidal journal entries. The report also notes that Claxton, a marketing executive, told authorities that the bed was made, which was unusual, and that he found his wife with over-the-counter pills on the floor. He attempted to revive her by shaking and slapping her face before calling 911. Claxton maintained that Burrell had never attempted suicide or spoken about it, and had shown no signs of such intentions.
Burrell's family released a statement on the day of her death, describing her as a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend whose smile lit up every room. The statement emphasised that her warmth and spirit would remain eternal, touching millions across the world.
