Police Reveal New Details in anne burrell’s Death: Suicidal Note, Toxicology Findings
Investigators have released new details about the death of chef anne burrell, saying officers discovered a handwritten suicidal note dated the morning of her death and journal entries expressing suicidal thoughts. The chef was found dead in her Brooklyn residence on June 17, 2025 (ET); authorities later determined the death to be a suicide after toxicology results were finalized in July 2025.
What investigators found at the scene
Police say Burrell’s husband, Stuart Claxton, found her at their Brooklyn home on June 17, 2025 (ET), where she was surrounded by more than 100 pills. Investigators recovered a handwritten note labeled by investigators as a suicidal note, which they said was written the morning of her death. They also discovered journal entries in the shared residence that contained suicidal content. Officials have not released the contents of the note or journal entries.
Claxton told investigators that Burrell had not previously expressed suicidal thoughts, and that there were no outward signs she would take her own life. Investigators continued to collect evidence from the scene as part of the routine process for an unexplained death that became a suspected suicide. The presence of both the note and entries in a personal journal was cited by investigators as new information clarifying the circumstances surrounding her passing.
Toxicology, cause of death and family response
The New York City medical examiner finalized its findings in July 2025 (ET), ruling Burrell’s death a suicide. The office determined the cause to be acute intoxication from multiple substances, listing diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine among the combined contributors. Those toxicology results formed the basis for the official classification of manner of death.
Following the release of the medical examiner’s determination, Burrell’s family issued a statement remembering her warmth and spirit, saying her light reached millions and that her love remains eternal. The family’s message underscored the shock felt by loved ones and colleagues who described her as energetic and engaged in her work and personal life.
Investigators have not shared the exact language of the note or journal passages, citing the sensitivity of the material and ongoing procedural protections. Authorities have completed their principal investigative actions and documentation, and the medical examiner’s report serves as the official record of cause and manner of death.
The developments mark a grim confirmation in an investigation that began when Claxton discovered Burrell on June 17, 2025 (ET). The combination of the note, journal entries, the scene evidence, and the toxicology findings led investigators and the medical examiner’s office to conclude that the death was self-inflicted.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. In the U. S. you can call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
