Chef Anne Burrell's Heartbreaking Note Dated the Day of Her Passing at 55 Recovered — What We've Learned

A police report reveals a note left by the Food Network star before her death. What investigators found inside her home — and what her husband said — adds new context.

Chef Anne Burrell was found unresponsive inside her Brooklyn home on June 17, 2025. She was 55, and her death was ruled a suicide weeks later.

Now, a newly obtained police report reveals what investigators say was left behind in her bedroom — and the detail that adds a heartbreaking layer to the case.

According to a police report obtained by People, authorities found a "suicidal note" in the main bedroom of Burrell's Brooklyn home. The document was dated the morning of her death.

Investigators also reported locating "suicidal" journal entries laid out on the bed in the same room.

In the early hours of June 17, a redacted person identified in the report as someone "married to Anne" — understood to be her husband, Stuart Claxton — observed that the bed had been made, which the report noted was unusual.

Claxton later discovered Burrell on the bathroom floor "with a bunch of over the counter pills on the floor." He attempted to wake her by shaking her and slapping her face before calling 911 when she did not respond.

But what makes the report especially striking is what Claxton later told police.

He said his wife had "never attempted suicide" and had "never talked about it." He added that she showed no signs "that she would do something like this," a statement that stands in sharp contrast to what investigators say they found.

Before these newly released findings, initial reports had already drawn intense public attention to the circumstances inside her home.

As previously reported, Claxton discovered her body between 6 and 7 a.m. and immediately called 911. Law enforcement sources confirmed to TMZ that "a large quantity" of unidentified pills were found around the area where Burrell's body was located.

The New York Post also reported that "dozens of pills" were present at the scene. A spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department stated the incident was reported as a cardiac arrest. Emergency responders attempted CPR, but Burrell could not be revived.

While a 911 operator reportedly advised Claxton to perform CPR, it remains unclear if he did. TMZ reported that her body was already cold when he found her. According to reports, Claxton last saw his wife alive at approximately 1 a.m. on Tuesday.

The night before her death, Burrell had performed an improv set at a local Brooklyn venue. A witness told the New York Post that she was "in great spirits" around 1 a.m., her last known public appearance.

The city medical examiner has yet to release an official cause of death. Law enforcement sources have stated it is too early to determine whether the pills played any role in her death, and there is currently no suspicion of foul play.

Burrell had become a household name through her hosting role on "Worst Cooks in America." She also appeared on other popular Food Network programs such as "Iron Chef America," "Chef Wanted," and "Chopped."

Her show "Secrets of a Restaurant Chef" ran for nine seasons and earned her an Emmy nomination. Known for her distinctive spiky bleached hairstyle, Burrell built a successful career after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and working in kitchens across New York City.

Following her death, Food Network released a statement calling her "a remarkable person and culinary talent — teaching, competing, and always sharing the importance of food in her life and joy that a delicious meal can bring."

She is survived by her husband, her stepson, her brother, her sister, and her mother.

As details of her death emerged, public reactions on social media quickly poured in. While some expressed suspicion, others called for restraint and respect.

One fan questioned, "In the shower? Doesn't make sense, how does he not hear her fall in the shower? I don't know just something is off." Another speculated, "Unless something really suspicious happened to her then she most likely dropped the bottle when she fell."

Someone else wrote, "Dozens of pills?? 💊 in the shower?? 🚿 now see this is what I was saying.. suspicious." Some fans were more direct in their suspicions, with one commenting, "No. No. No. Huge red flag. 🚩 those were planted there. IMO."

But others urged caution, such as the fan who said, "If she had a heart condition she would have a lot of prescription meds don’t make it sound suspicious until you know." Another added, "I wish they would leave all of this and autopsy confidential as its no one's business but the families [sic]."

Many echoed the need for evidence, not speculation. One person posted, "Unless the pills were found in her body, they didn’t play a role," while another noted, "Pills could be normal medications for someone in mid 50s." A similar view read, "Maybe to take a pill bc she thought she was having a heart attack and they spilled?!? [sic]"

As authorities continue reviewing the case, officials have urged patience while final determinations are made. In the meantime, many are choosing to remember Anne Burrell for her culinary talent, television legacy, and the joy she brought to audiences for years.