It's been nearly two months since Food Network star Anne Burrell died, but her friends are having a very hard time believing she intentionally meant to take her own life.
The New York City medical examiner's office determined the 55-year-old's cause of death to be suicide, more specifically, “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine and amphetamine.”
At the time of her death, the NYPD revealed Burrell was found unconscious and unresponsive at home. She was pronounced dead at the scene. It's unknown if the medication in her system was prescription or obtained in some other way.
However, those closest to Burrell still can't believe it. Sources close to the Food Network star tell The New York Post Burrell was in good spirits at a show just hours before her death.
The report quotes a source, saying, "Who knows what happened after that. It’s all sort of puzzling. She lived life. She was not a downer – she lived. For her, everyday was a party in Anne’s world. She lived every day. Everyone was shocked. There was no one that was like, ‘the last time I saw Anne she was in the gutter.’"
The NY Post says its sources admit Burrell liked to party, but they've also wondered if maybe she just made a bad decision when she was inebriated.
Burrell’s former business partner, Phil Casaceli, told The Post, “I was like, ‘No way. I don’t believe it.’ It doesn’t all make sense. She goes out, she has a great night. I don’t believe it." He continued, “To me it just seems like an accidental thing. To me, it just doesn’t add up. She was always smiling.”
In a statement to People following her death, Burrell's loved ones said, "Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered. Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal."
