An investigator discovered a 'suicidal note' and 'suicidal' diary entries in Anne Burrell's bedroom after her shock death last year aged 55.
Advertisement
Her husband Stuart Claxton discovered her body at their Brooklyn home on June 17, 2025, and her passing was ruled a suicide the following month.
The specific cause was 'acute intoxication' from the 'combined effects' of the antihistamines diphenhydramine and cetirizine, as well as amphetamine and ethanol, according to the New York City medical examiner's office.
Now a new report by the New York City Police Department has indicated that the 'suicidal' letter was retrieved in her home's master bedroom, where a journal containing 'suicidal' entries was on the bed, via People.
The document stated a person 'married to Anne' - whose name was redacted - told the police Burrell had 'never attempted suicide in the past' and 'never talked about it,' nor had she exhibited 'any signs that she would do something like this.'
Advertisement
An investigator discovered a 'suicidal note' and 'suicidal' diary entries in Anne Burrell's bedroom after her shock death last year aged 55; pictured 2019
Early in the morning when Burrell was found dead, her husband had 'noticed that the bed was made in their room which is not normal,' per the new police report.
Claxton then discovered her on the bathroom floor 'with a bunch of over the counter pills on the floor,' whereupon he began 'shaking her and slapping her face' in an attempt to wake her up and then dialed 911 when his efforts failed.
Shortly after her death, NYPD documents indicated that there were 'approximately (100) assorted pills' around her body when she was found, via the New York Times.
Advertisement
She was reportedly pronounced dead on the scene after an EMS crew tried to perform CPR on her but was unsuccessful in the attempt to revive her.
Claxton - who married Burrell in October 2021 at her hometown in upstate New York - is said to have last seen her alive at around 1:00am on June 17 last year, six to seven hours before he came upon her unresponsive in the bathroom.
The evening before she died she had performed in an improv show at a Brooklyn comedy club, having taken classes at its training center.
'I just started taking acting classes,' she remarked that March on Tori Spelling's podcast. 'I started yesterday, actually... It's like an improv for actors' class.'
She shared that there were 'like eight people in the class. I'm the oldest one. Every other person has like: "Oh, I have a master's in fine arts in theater."'
Advertisement
Burrell joked: 'I wonder if these delightful and super talented kids look at me and they're like: "What's this old lady doing here?"'
At that point she had recently shocked fans by announcing a hiatus from Worst Cooks in America after season 28, which aired from January to February last year.
'I can cook, yes, I can do TV, but also, what else? I've got more to do in my life, I feel like,' she told Spelling, clarifying she was only 'dipping her toe' into acting.
'I feel very excited about it. I've got a few other things that I'm working on as well, which I'm not quite ready to share yet. Hopefully, exciting [are] things coming.'
Her devastated family reacted to the news of her death with a statement saying that 'her smile lit up every room she entered' and that her 'light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world.'
Advertisement
Worst Cooks in the World returned to the Food Network last month for its first episodes since Burrell died, leaving fans devastated.
If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.