In a shocking development surrounding celebrity chef Anne Burrell‘s death, the New York City Police Department has launched an investigation into whether the Food Network personality died from a possible drug overdose.
According to The New York Times, an internal police document reveals that Burrell, 55, was “discovered in the shower unconscious and unresponsive surrounded by approximately [100] assorted pills.”
While a medical examiner’s office representative confirmed that an autopsy has been completed, they indicated that both the cause and manner of Burrell’s death remain under investigation.
The beloved chef, who found fame first as a sous chef on Iron Chef America before becoming the face of Worst Cooks in America, passed away unexpectedly this week. First responders who arrived at her Brooklyn home on Tuesday morning pronounced her dead at the scene.
According to reports, Stuart Claxton, Burrell’s husband of four years, last saw her around 1 a.m. Tuesday, before discovering her on the bathroom floor six to seven hours later. The New York City Fire Department had previously stated they responded to what was reported as a “cardiac arrest.”
“Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend—her smile lit up every room she entered,” Burrell’s family said in a statement.
“Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”
With her signature spiky bleach-blonde hair and no-nonsense approach to mentoring aspiring chefs, Burrell became a Food Network icon. However, fans noticed her absence when the latest season of Worst Cooks in America premiered in January, leading to speculation. When asked on Instagram why she hadn’t returned, Burrell simply replied, “Honestly, I don’t know.”
Just hours before her death, Burrell had made her debut performance in improv comedy at The Second City New York in Brooklyn, with reports indicating she was “in great spirits.”
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