The death of Food Network star Anne Burrell has been officially ruled a suicide.
According to NBC News, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined her cause of death to be acute intoxication from a mix of substances.
Burrell was found unresponsive at her Brooklyn home on the morning of June 17. First responders arrived after a cardiac arrest was reported, but despite efforts to revive her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
TMZ reported that diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamines were detected in her system.
Her husband, Stuart Claxton, discovered her lying unresponsive on the shower floor. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that multiple types of pills were found nearby, prompting an investigation into the circumstances of her death.
Anne Burrell was a beloved figure on the Food Network, instantly recognizable for her spiky blond hair and high-energy presence. She became a fan favorite as the longtime host of Worst Cooks in America and its celebrity spin-off, Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition.
Her hit series Secrets of a Restaurant Chef ran for nine seasons, offering viewers simple yet powerful techniques to elevate their home cooking. Burrell was also a familiar face on popular Food Network shows like Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay.
She made a mark in the culinary competition scene as well, winning Season 4 of the Chopped All-Stars Tournament and generously donating the $75,000 prize to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Burrell’s culinary journey began at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, followed by a year in Italy where she studied at the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners and trained at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
She was 55 years old at the time of her passing.
