“MasterChef Season 3” finalist Josh Marks was found dead Friday in Longwood Manor in Chicago. Initial investigation reveals that the cause of death is a gunshot to the head. Authorities believe that the 26-year-old chef committed suicide.
Members of the Chicago Police Department responded to a distress call from a woman needing help. The reality show runner-up was found in an alleyway, face up, and unresponsive. The hysterical woman was the chef’s mom, Paulette Mitchell. Marks was declared dead on the spot and a gun was found next to Marks’ body.
The death of the self-trained chef comes three months after a bizarre encounter with police officers of Chicago. The tall and 260-pound chef was charged with aggravated battery after attacking a police officer and attempting to disarm the victim near the University of Chicago. Five officers worked together to pin down Marks who managed to get away when subdued and pepper sprayed by three officers. Marks claimed that he was possessed by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and turned him into a god.
The chef was asked to go through a mental evaluation to find out if he is fit to face trial. He was not detained. The chef, who finished second to Christine Ha in the Fox cooking show, also revealed in a video for “Make a Sound Project” that he has a bipolar disorder.
According to Paulette Mitchell, Marks’ mother, her son suffered from anxiety, months after losing MasterChef and was prescribed medications. The problem led to more diagnoses of serious mental illness. Mitchell related that Marks finished an outpatient program for his mental illness on Thursday at the Mercy Hospital and Medical Center but recently was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“He couldn't bear the thought of another diagnosis. He was just coming to accept the diagnosis of bipolar,” lamented Mitchell in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.
“I started driving down the alleys.I didn't reach my boy in time,” cried the mother who shared the story how she searched for Marks that night.
The devastated mother shared that there were no signs of mental illness until his son finished taping MasterChef. The process of the reality show took toll on the chef and was disappointed after failing to grab the win. Marks went on a downhill since then.
Chefs Gordon Ramsay and Graham Elliot, both judges of MasterChef, have expressed their sympathies for the family of Josh Marks via Twitter.
