Shocking new details are emerging surrounding the sudden and tragic death of celebrity chef Anne Burrell. Burrell's cold body was reportedly found on the shower floor by her husband, several hours after he had last seen her.
The Food Network star was found unresponsive in the bathroom by her husband, Stuart Claxton, on the morning of Tuesday, June 17, according to law enforcement sources cited by TMZ on Wednesday Claxton had reportedly last seen Burrell around 1 a.m., and discovered her body "between six and seven hours later." Claxton called 911 and was advised by the dispatcher to perform CPR on Burrell. It is not known if he did so.
Sudden and Shocking Death
Burrell was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency responders arrived at around 7:50 a.m. Burrell's cause of death has not yet been revealed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, as the investigation remains underway.
However, the 911 call has suggested a potential cause of death, as the New York Fire Department confirmed to the Daily Mail that they were responding to a cardiac arrest report on Tuesday.
Burrell's family later released an emotional statement confirming her sudden death, though they also chose not to disclose the cause.
"Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered," their statement read. "Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world," the family added. "Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal."
The Food Network also paid tribute to the celebrity chef in an emotional statement. "Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent – teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring," a representative for the network told The New York Post.
"Our thoughts are with Anne's family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss," they concluded.
Burrell shot to fame with her appearances on various cooking shows, including "Iron Chef America", "Chef Wanted", and "Chopped." She received an Emmy nomination for her hit show "Secrets of a Restaurant Chef", which aired for nine successful seasons.
Most recently, she appeared on an episode of the culinary competition series "House of Knives".
Beyond her television career, Burrell was also an author. Her first cookbook, "Cook Like a Rock Star", released in 2011, became a New York Times bestseller.
Everyone's Darling
Just days before her shocking death, Burrell posted what would become her final message on Instagram. In the photo, she's seen smiling alongside New York City icon Elizabeth Eaton Rosenthal, famously known as the Green Lady of Brooklyn.
Burrell captioned the picture: "I ran into @greenladyofbrooklyn in my neighborhood today!! I'm not going to lie- I have been keeping an eye out for her. I may or may not have followed her down the street for a minute. She is just lovely!!!"
Less than a week before her untimely death, Burrell also spent time with fellow chefs Franklin Becker and Elizabeth Falkner at Soho House.
After hearing the news of her death, Becker — known for his appearance on "Top Chef Masters" — shared photos from their recent evening together.
"I am stunned... I just had dinner with Anne and Stuart the other night at Elizabeth's pop up. We were making karaoke plans together. I simply cannot believe this. Anne was a gifted chef and a friend. No words," he wrote.
Burrell is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton, his son Javier, her mother Marlena, and her siblings, Jane and Ben.
