Major update in Jock Zonfrillo death investigation

There’s been a significant update in the probe into the MasterChef Australia judge’s death at the age of 46, nearly two years on.

The cause of death of 46-year-old MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo will not be made public, it’s been reported.

A 16-month investigation into the Scottish chef’s tragic passing has now been completed by the coroner, but the findings will remain private unless his family decides to share them, a Coroners Court spokesperson has confirmed to news.com.au.

Zonfrillo’s body was discovered at Zagame’s House hotel on Lygon Street, near Melbourne’s CBD, on April 30, 2023.

Police had been called to the hotel to conduct a welfare check on the father-of four, just one day before the new season of MasterChef was due to premiere.

Zonfrillo was survived by his wife, Lauren, and their two young children – Alfie, 5, and Isla, 3 – who were on holidays in Rome at the time of his death. It’s understood Lauren was the one who made the frantic call to police to check on him after becoming concerned when he stopped answering her calls.

He also had two daughters, Ava and Sofia, from previous relationships.

Lauren Zonfrillo reportedly made the call to police for a check on her husband. Picture: @zonfrillo

It came on the eve of the 2023 MasterChef Australia season. Picture: Instagram

His death prompted plenty of speculation due to his past heroin addiction, but there was no drug paraphernalia found in the hotel room.

Nearly two years on, a spokesman for Victoria’s Coroners Court has now told news.com.au that the investigation was privately finalised in late August last year.

“At the close of the investigation, the coroner determined that the finding would not be published,” the spokesperson said.

Not all coronial findings are required to be published.

Zonfrillo with fellow celebrity chef and MasterChef guest judge, Jamie Oliver. Picture: Ten

It emerged last month that Zonfrillo’s heartbroken widow has written a new book about grief following the trauma of losing her husband.

Till Death Do Us Part, slated for a May release, is designed to help others find comfort through their own experience of pain and suffering.

“It’s been really hard to explain how we got from absolute catastrophe to this new version of our life, which in spite of it all, is quite bright and optimistic,” Lauren told her followers in a video post announcing her book in December.

“It was not at all cathartic, I re-read journals from some very dark and broken places and probably undid a bit of my progress, to be honest. But it did make me think deeper about some really complex parts of grief.

“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.”

Originally published as Major update in Jock Zonfrillo death investigation