Police Report: Anne Burrell Left 'Suicidal Note' and Journal Entries, Medical Examiner Lists Mixed-Drug Intoxication
The latest police file reveals that Anne Burrell left a suicidal note in her home before her death, an entry that investigators recovered alongside journal pages they described as suicidal in tone. The development adds detail to the inquiry into the chef’s June 17, 2025 death and clarifies how authorities reached a suicide ruling.
New material from investigators and the scene
Police say the note was found inside the Brooklyn residence where the 55-year-old chef was discovered on June 17, 2025. Her husband, Stuart Claxton, found her in the home surrounded by more than 100 pills. Investigators later determined the death to be a suicide in July. The New York City medical examiner concluded the cause was an acute intoxication from a combination of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine.
Anne Burrell: timeline, immediate reactions and family comment
Officials placed the discovery of the body on June 17, 2025, and the cause-of-death determination followed the next month. During the initial investigation, Claxton told police that Burrell had never voiced suicidal thoughts and that there had been no outward signs suggesting she would take her own life. Burrell’s family issued a statement after her death expressing that her influence reached beyond immediate circles and emphasizing the continuing presence of her warmth and spirit.
Unanswered questions and what investigators have not released
- The content of the suicidal note and the journal entries has not been disclosed; investigators have not provided excerpts or specific language from those writings.
- Authorities have not released a detailed timeline of the hours immediately preceding discovery beyond the date and the fact that Claxton found her at the scene.
- Any motivations, triggering events, or prior mental-health history that could explain the writings have not been detailed by investigators.
- No public information has been released about whether toxicology findings identified concentration levels or timing of ingestion beyond the listed substances.
Likely next steps in the inquiry and possible developments to watch
- Completion of any outstanding investigative steps: investigators may review the recovered writings, interview additional witnesses, and finalize a full investigative report; timing for those items has not been provided.
- Medical-examiner follow-ups: there may be further clarifications on toxicology specifics if additional tests were pursued; no schedule has been announced.
- Private estate or family actions: the family may choose to release more context or to keep details private; no decision has been made public.
- Public statements from close contacts: friends or colleagues may comment or offer remembrances, though no such statements have been released beyond the family message noted above.
Because authorities have withheld the text of the note and journal entries and have not released a full investigative timeline, several important pieces of the picture remain unknown. Observers should expect any substantive new disclosures to come from investigators or the medical examiner as their work concludes.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call or text 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
