On Tuesday, the New York Police Department (NYPD) released a series of photographs taken at the scene of former Food Network star Anne Burrell’s death in her Brooklyn apartment. The images, shared with People magazine, provide a stark visual record of the chaotic environment that surrounded the chef’s tragic passing on June 17, 2025.
New Photographs Shed Light on the Scene of Anne Burrell’s Tragic Death
The photos show a cluttered bathroom floor littered with pills, empty medication bottles, and cigarette butts. In one frame, a shallow dish near the toilet bowl contains a handful of small, white tablets. Another shot captures several overturned bottles—Advil, Zyrtec, Motrin, and a ValuMeds allergy‑relief antihistamine—sprawled across the tile. A third image reveals discarded cigarette butts beside a lighter, hinting at a possible smoking habit.
These images were taken by NYPD officers who arrived shortly after Burrell’s husband, Stuart Claxton, discovered her unconscious at approximately 7:50 a.m. on the morning of her death. The scene was secured for forensic examination, and the photographs were later released as part of the public record.
The Medications and Evidence Found at the Brooklyn Home
According to the NYPD, the apartment contained a variety of over‑the‑counter and prescription drugs. The list below summarizes the medications that were recovered during the investigation:
- Advil (ibuprofen)
- Zyrtec (cetirizine)
- Motrin (ibuprofen)
- ValuMeds allergy‑relief antihistamine (diphenhydramine)
- Alcoholic beverages (ethanol)
- Unidentified amphetamine‑based medication
The medical examiner’s office later confirmed that Burrell’s death was caused by acute intoxication from a combination of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine. The presence of these substances, along with the scattered pills, suggests a deliberate ingestion









