Major update in MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo's death: 'Secret'

It’s been almost two years since the shock passing of MasterChef judge and celebrity chef Jock Zonfrillo at age 46. The father-of-four was found dead at 2am in Melbourne on May 1, 2023 - the same day season 15 of MasterChef was set to premiere - after police received a call requesting a “welfare check”.

While Jock’s cause of death wasn’t confirmed at the time, an investigation was conducted behind closed doors over 16 months and wrapped up on August 27 last year. However, a coroner has now decided not to publicly reveal what happened on the night of his death.

“At the close of the investigation, the coroner determined that the finding would not be published,” a spokeswoman for Victoria's Coroners Court told Daily Mail.

RELATED:

• MasterChef fans confused after Andy Allen's touching tribute to Jock Zonfrillo

• MasterChef's Andy Allen wasn't sure he'd return to show after Jock: 'Felt so wrong'

• Jock Zonfrillo's widow honours their wedding anniversary in heartbreaking post

The publication also wrote that Jock’s cause of death will “likely remain secret” unless his family chooses to disclose the coroner’s findings.

Jock is survived by his wife Lauren and their two young children, six-year-old Alfie and four-year-old Isla, as well as his daughters Ava and Sofia from his previous marriages.

Lauren Zonfrillo's big announcement

The update comes just a few weeks after Lauren Zonfrillo announced her upcoming book Till Death Do Us Part, which she describes as her “lived experience through traumatic loss”. The memoir, subtitled ‘Life without Jock and learning to live with intention’, is set to be published on May 6.

“I am no psychologist - I am not even a writer. But I have written a book, Till Death Do Us Part,” she wrote on Instagram alongside the announcement. “This is a book of my lived experience through traumatic loss, the kind of support that I was reaching out for in the shadows of grief, and being homesick for a life that didn’t exist anymore.

“And for those going through loss, I am writing this book so that your hands can land on it when you are reaching out in the darkness for something, anything, that might give you stability.”

SHOP:

• The award-winning mattress that's 'like sleeping on a cloud'

• The lash and brow oil that will save you hundreds at the salon

• Free product that could help increase your home's value by $112,000

Lauren also said in the video that she's experienced physical effects of grief that have impacted her mind, body and memory. She called the journey “overwhelming and lonely” as she navigated parenting her two young kids, who were only five and two at the time of Jock's passing.

“By building a bigger life, I was able to make grief a small percentage of that and that created space for happiness and that's where we're at now,” she said.

Want the latest lifestyle and entertainment news? Make sure you are following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter.