More than a month after the chef was found dead in her Brooklyn home in June 2025, authorities finally released the cause of death report, offering insight into a loss that stunned the food industry.
New details have emerged in the investigation into the death of chef and Food Network star Anne Burrell, who was found unconscious in her Brooklyn home more than a month ago.
On July 24, 2025, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner officially ruled that she committed suicide. According to the report, the cause was acute intoxication from a combination of amphetamine, alcohol, and antihistamines.
The findings confirm the New York Police Department’s early suspicions that the June 17, 2025, death was most likely a suicide.
At the scene, Burrell was discovered in the shower, unconscious and unresponsive, surrounded by more than 100 different tablets. Her husband, Stuart Claxton, found her six to seven hours after she was last seen alive at 1 a.m.
Claxton immediately called 911 because he believed Burrell had gone into cardiac arrest. Nevertheless, Burrell’s body was already cold when rescuers arrived, and their attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. Since the public release of the official results, Burrell’s widower has remained silent.
As the investigation draws to a close, a lot of attention is being paid to Burrell’s life and legacy, both inside and outside the kitchen. A more comprehensive picture of the chef that the world came to love is given in the retrospective that follows, which covers everything from her well-known career in food television to her experiences with marriage, love, and personal growth.
In addition to these early accounts, many people took into account her life, career, and personal accomplishments. These included her marriage to Claxton, her rise in the culinary field, and her ongoing TV appearances.
Burrell became known for her skills and passion for cooking, leading to the development of a distinguished career in culinary arts. Her most famous position was hosting the popular “Food Network” program “Worst Cooks in America,” where she mentored aspiring chefs. Along with this show, she also hosted “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” and made appearances on the “Iron Chef” series.
Burrell obtained her official training at the Culinary Institute of America, where she finished her studies and graduated in 1996. Early in her career, she also taught cooking at Manhattan’s Institute of Culinary Education.
For more than three years, Burrell and Claxton were married. Through this marriage, she became the stepmother of his son, Javier, from a previous relationship. They started dating after Burrell called off an earlier engagement.
Ted Allen, Burrell’s co-star on the “Food Network,” came out as a lesbian in 2012. This surprised people who didn’t know much about her personal life.
The culinary community knew that Burrell had been seeing another chef, Koren Grieveson, for years, according to her representatives. At the time, the women were engaged and shared a home.
Burrell revealed that she prefers cooking alone and that even her fiancé, Grieveson, was not permitted in the kitchen when talking about how she sets up her workspace.
Unfortunately, the two split up, and Burrell went looking for love again. She eventually met her future husband and fiancé on the dating app Bumble after creating an account there.
Burrell, who recounted the experience, said she and Claxton clicked right away. She was a famous cook, but Claxton didn’t know it. She seemed to enjoy his forgetfulness, as if it were a good thing.
On their first date, Claxton was captivated by his lover’s appearance. He told Today that she looked better in person than in photos. Burrell also found her date exciting, and they have stayed together ever since.
When he asked the crucial question, Claxton and Burrell were placed under quarantine in Cazenovia, New York, where she was born. After receiving a wedding ring for the first time, Claxton felt it was appropriate to speak with Burrell’s mother before making his decision. So before he asked her to help with the plan, he asked her permission.
They decorated the lavish apartment and townhouse of his future mother-in-law, setting a beautiful table and setting the mood for a romantic evening.
The two kept their meticulous arrangement a secret from Burrell. Claxton eventually invited his sweetheart to supper. Family members attended the event with the couple.
Over the dinner table, Claxton talked endlessly about their relationship’s past and future, including songs they could play at their wedding. His lover found this ridiculous and believed the subject was inappropriate because they were part of her family.
However, Claxton was unfazed. Instead, he offered to pop the question and changed the topic to family. “Yes!” was the enthusiastic Burrell’s response.
Although the cookbook author admitted that they were a match made in heaven from the start and that she thought the relationship was sincere, Burrell never dreamed of marriage.
This was because Burrell had never exchanged vows with anyone and, considering her age, had given up on having a fairy tale wedding.
The TV host was therefore more eager to build a successful career than to get married, even though she had fallen in love with her ex-fiance.
A few months after the surprise proposal, Burrell and her husband planned their “magical fairy tale” ceremony to honor the most memorable day of their lives.
The couple exchanged vows at Windridge Estates Redbarn 20 in Cazenovia. It was a great celebration with family and friends invited.
Burrell, the most beautiful woman in the room, was wearing a bridal gown designed by Caroline Herrera. She rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the altar, followed by her four bridesmaids.
Her husband decided to have his teenage son, Javier, be his best man, while her sister and close friends wore burnt orange “classic fifties-style party dresses” as bridesmaids.
Despite the excitement that comes with being a first-time bride, Burrell chose not to have a traditional honeymoon.
Claxton looked good in his Ralph Lauren-designed tuxedo and Nike high-tops. The famous chef expressed her wish for the wedding to be “fun and have a sense of whimsy.”
The finest cuisine was served during Burrell’s wedding ceremony. It took months to develop the menu, which included delectable short rib dishes, pasta, and a vegan selection.
Despite the excitement of being a first-time bride, Burrell decided against having a traditional honeymoon.
After their wedding and after-party, the newlyweds moved into their newly remodeled Brooklyn apartment. The cookbook author admitted that instead of taking her honeymoon overseas, she would rather be spoiled at home.
Burrell’s apartment, which also has a small living area, dining tables and seats facing the TV, a place for fresh flowers, and large windows that offer a beautiful view of the skyline, is where the couple spent their unusual honeymoon.
