Food Network star Anne Burrell died by suicide at 55: medical examiner

Anne Burrell's death was ruled a suicide, Fox News Digital can confirm.

The New York Office of Chief Medical Examiner noted the celebrity chef's cause of death was acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine and amphetamine.

Burrell was found unconscious and unresponsive inside her New York City home on the morning of June 17. The New York City Fire Department responded to a 911 call to a Brooklyn residence – one that matched Burrell's home address – about a reported cardiac arrest, the NYC Fire Department confirmed to Fox News Digital.

"Upon arrival, officers observed a 55-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive," the NYPD said in a statement at the time. "EMS responded and pronounced the female deceased at the scene."

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The Food Network confirmed Burrell's death in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.

"It is with deep sadness we announce that Anne Burrell, 55, passed away this morning at her home in New York," a spokesperson said. "With her trademark spiky blonde hair and sparkling personality, Anne Burrell was the hugely popular and fan favorite host of Food Network’s hit show, ‘Worst Cooks in America.’ Burrell was an industry veteran and passionate teacher who prided herself on her work in the culinary world."

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The evening before she was found, Burrell performed an improv show at The Second City New York in Brooklyn, according to People magazine

"Everyone said she was so great last night and so happy," a source told the outlet. 

A separate source who was with her at the improv show confirmed to People that she "was in great spirits last night … Typical fun, outgoing Anne, having a blast."

Everyone was "shocked and confused" because the late chef seemed fine when everyone left the show, the source added. 

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Burrell began her TV career in 2005 as a sous chef for Mario Batali in the premiere episode of "Iron Chef America." She later starred in her own cooking show, "Secrets of a Restaurant Chef." The show ran from 2008 to 2012.

The celebrity chef made frequent appearances on top Food Network shows, including "Chef Wanted," "Chopped" and "Food Network Star."

She notoriously co-hosted the hit show "Worst Cooks in America" for 27 seasons, from 2010 to 2024.

Fox News Digital's Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.

Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell to see how feds meeting plays out amid subpoena: brother

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is planning to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell in Florida on Thursday – just one day after a Congressional committee voted to subpoena Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice to provide additional testimony surrounding his years of sex crimes. 

The news comes as Maxwell is reportedly compiling new evidence pertaining to alleged government misconduct stemming from her 2021 trial to hand over to the Department of Justice (DOJ), her brother, Ian Maxwell, confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

"She will be putting before that court material new evidence that was not available to the defense at her 2021 trial, which would have had a significant impact on its outcome," Ian Maxwell told The New York Post

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She has long been regarded as a key figure in Epstein’s criminal empire, often seen alongside him at social events and handling the logistics of his sexual escapades. 

During her 2021 trial, Maxwell did not testify in her own defense and never provided her version of events to federal prosecutors leading up to the proceedings. 

The development comes after a Florida judge rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to unseal transcripts from grand jury investigations stemming from Epstein’s proceedings on Wednesday, as a similar request remains pending in New York.

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A federal judge also denied Maxwell’s request to obtain the documents, saying it was a "black-letter law" that defendants are unable to access grand jury information. 

On the same day, a House Oversight committee issued a subpoena for Maxwell to testify before the committee next month. 

David Oscar Markus, Maxwell’s attorney, told the BBC that if his client chooses to appear, "she would testify truthfully, as she always has said she would."

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"As for the congressional subpoena, Ms. Maxwell is taking this one step at a time," Markus said. "She looks forward to her meeting with the Department of Justice, and that discussion will help inform how she proceeds."

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly expressed his concerns surrounding the legitimacy of Maxwell’s testimony. 

"I mean, this is a person who's been sentenced to many, many years in prison for terrible, unspeakable, conspiratorial acts and acts against innocent young people," Johnson said, according to the BBC.

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In 2008, Epstein struck a deal with federal prosecutors in a bid to avoid more severe federal charges by pleading guilty to state charges of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution. One month after his arrest, he was found dead in his New York City jail cell in what was ultimately ruled a suicide. 

Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi told "America Reports" host John Roberts that she was in possession of Epstein’s "client list." 

Maxwell is currently serving out her 20-year sentence for propositioning underage girls for Epstein’s sexual assaults at FCI Tallahassee in Florida. She was convicted of five federal charges, including sex trafficking of a minor. 

Maxwell is set to testify in front of Congress on Aug. 11. 

The DOJ and Maxwell's attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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