GOSSIP & RUMORS: Anne Burrell’s death under investigation as possible drug overdose

New details of Food Network star Anne Burrell’s shocking passing have emerged.

The New York Police Department is reportedly investigating Burrell’s sudden death as a possible drug overdose, according to a document viewed by The New York Times on Friday.

The internal document reportedly said that Burrell was “discovered in the shower unconscious and unresponsive surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills.”

A spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also confirmed on Friday that Burrell’s autopsy had been completed, but any findings connected to the cause and manner of her death were still pending.

On Thursday, as the NYPD continued to investigate Burrell’s sudden and unexplained death, sources told The Post that the Food Network host’s body had been discovered next to dozens of pills inside her Brooklyn home.

Burrell, who was perhaps most popular for hosting the Food Network shows “Worst Cooks in America” and “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef,” passed away on Tuesday, June 17, at the age of 55.

Her loved ones were the first to confirm the shocking news in a statement that afternoon.

“Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend – her smile lit up every room she entered,” Burrell’s family said.

“Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world,” they added. “Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”

The Food Network also paid tribute to Burrell in a statement to The Post following the news of her death.

“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 rep for the network said.

“Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss,” they added.

Although Burrell’s cause of death is still pending, the NYPD confirmed that she was found “unconscious and unresponsive” and pronounced dead at the scene.

Shortly after, a spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department said that a 911 caller claimed Burrell had suffered a “cardiac arrest” and she was “dead on arrival” to the hospital.

Law enforcement sources later revealed that Burrell’s husband, Stuart Claxton, found the beloved celebrity chef unconscious on the floor of their shower “between six and seven hours” after he had last seen her alive.

Burrell had also performed an improv comedy show in Brooklyn on Monday night and just hours before her sudden passing.

An attendee at the show said Burrell had been in “great spirits” and that everyone was left “shocked and confused” about her death because she seemed fine upon leaving the show at the end of the night.

Several of Burrell’s close friends and colleagues broke their silence on the beloved chef’s tragic death.

Chef Tyler Florence, who starred as a judge and co-host on several seasons of “Worst Cooks in America,” remembered Burrell as a “legendary chef” and an “even better friend” in a statement to The Post.

Rachael Ray, who not only worked with Burrell but also served as a bridesmaid in her wedding, said she was left “shaken” and “heartbroken.”

“The news hit me like a gut punch,” Beau MacMillan, Burrell’s original “Worst Cooks in America” co-host, told The Post after her passing.

“Anne was bigger than life, whether she was running a kitchen or filming a show, you knew she was in charge,” he added.

More than 100 of the cooking icon’s loved ones gathered on the Upper East Side on Friday to mourn Burrell with a wake.

Besides Burrell’s immediate family, the ceremony included several famous chefs and celebrities.