New details are emerging about the heartbreaking final hours of Food Network favorite Anne Burrell.
According to a newly surfaced police report, investigators found a note dated the morning of Burrell’s death inside the primary bedroom of her Brooklyn home. The report also describes journal entries that appeared to reflect a deeply distressed state of mind.
The scene inside the bedroom reportedly stood out to Burrell’s husband, Stuart Claxton, because it looked unusually “cleaned up” and not like her normal routine. Police documents say that shortly after, Claxton found Burrell unresponsive in the bathroom.
The report states Claxton tried to wake her up and then called 911 at 7:50 a.m. He reportedly told the dispatcher he feared she was experiencing cardiac arrest, not that she had harmed herself. The report also notes that he attempted CPR in what was described as a frantic effort to save her.
Claxton allegedly told authorities he last saw Burrell alive around 1 a.m. and that she had never discussed suicide or shown obvious signs that something was about to happen.
About a month later, the medical examiner ruled Burrell’s death a suicide, according to the report.
Behind the scenes, people close to Burrell claim she’d been dealing with heavy anxiety and uncertainty as her career shifted. An insider said she felt the industry could be brutal and competitive, and that she’d recently stepped back from reality TV while exploring new directions, including acting classes.
In a twist that makes the story even more haunting, she had performed in an improv show just hours before her death, according to the account.
After the tragedy, Burrell’s family focused on remembering her for the energy she brought to everyone around her.
“Her smile lit up every room she entered,” the family said in a statement, adding that her warmth and spirit would be remembered.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 in the U.S. to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911.
