New Police Report Reveals Suicidal Note and Journals in anne burrell Case
A newly released police report details the discovery of a suicidal note and journal entries in the Brooklyn home of television chef Anne Burrell, who died the morning of June 17, 2025 (ET) at age 55. The document offers a clearer timeline of the scene investigators encountered and summarizes the medical examiner’s findings that later established the cause of death.
What investigators found at the scene
The report states an investigator located a handwritten "suicidal note" in the primary bedroom and described journal entries characterized as suicidal placed on a bed in the same room. The timeline in the report places the discovery in the early morning hours of June 17, 2025 (ET).
An individual identified in the report as married to Burrell noticed that the couple’s bed was made, which he said was unusual. He then found Burrell on the bathroom floor with a number of over‑the‑counter pills scattered nearby. The person attempted to rouse her by shaking her and slapping her face, then called 911 when she remained unresponsive. Emergency responders pronounced her deceased at the scene.
The report also cites an internal document that states Burrell was found unconscious and unresponsive in the shower, surrounded by roughly 100 assorted pills on June 20. Investigators collected items from the home and documented the scene as part of the initial inquiry.
Medical examiner’s conclusions and official ruling
In July 2025 the death was officially ruled a suicide. The city medical examiner’s office listed the cause as "acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine. " Diphenhydramine and cetirizine are antihistamines, ethanol is a compound found in alcohol, and amphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant sometimes used to treat ADHD.
The medical examiner’s finding clarified that multiple substances contributed to acute intoxication. Investigators and forensic personnel compiled toxicology and scene evidence to reach that conclusion before the manner of death was designated as suicide.
Family statement and context
Family members released a statement mourning Burrell as a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother and friend, saying her smile "lit up every room she entered" and that her warmth and spirit reached millions. The statement described her as a loving presence whose memory will endure among those who knew and admired her.
Those close to Burrell told investigators she had not previously attempted suicide and had not spoken about taking her own life. The police report records that the present matter took those who knew her by surprise, and that initial witness accounts painted no history of similar attempts.
The newly disclosed report adds further detail to the events surrounding a high‑profile death that drew immediate attention when it occurred. Authorities continue to treat the published findings from the police report and the medical examiner as the primary official account of what investigators observed and how the cause and manner of death were determined.
