Burrous had been a morning news anchor at KTLA since 2011.
Broadcaster Chris Burrous, who anchored the morning news on Los Angeles’ KTLA, was found unresponsive at a Days Inn motel in Glendale, California and died on December 27, 2018 at an area hospital.
Police in Glendale issued a statement which noted an individual who was with Burrous at the time of his death indicated that he had possibly suffered a drug overdose, and was administering aid when firefighters arrived at the motel. The 43-year-old who was a fixture at the CW affiliate since 2011, was a familiar face to Los Angeles television audiences, and colleagues expressed their condolences to his family via social media.
According to the Glendale Police report and a news briefing by Glendale Police Sgt. Dan Suttles, members of the city’s fire department responded to an afternoon call from the aforementioned male individual, who had contacted police to report that Burrous had passed out and was not breathing due to a possible overdose while both were at the Days Inn.
Suttles, who said that the individual “appeared to be a friend” of the news anchor, did a “good job of trying to render aid” when firefighters appeared at the scene. Burrous was given CPR and then transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The report noted that Glendale detectives are investigating the case, and while suicide appeared to be ruled out as a cause of death, they are currently awaiting a toxicology report from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. No additional details of the police investigation were available.
Burrous, whose family hailed from California’s Central Valley, joined the KTLA news staff after serving as a reporter and anchor at various locations across the United States, including KGET in Bakersfield, where he met and married fellow journalist Mai Do-Burrous, with whom he had a nine-year-old daughter.
As an anchor at KTLA, Burrous helped to expand its morning news programming to seven days a week, while also serving as correspondent for other telecasts, including coverage of the recent California wildfires. Burrous also hosted a regular segment titled “Burrous Bites,” which focused on restaurants throughout the state.
In a statement issued in the evening of December 27, KTLA President and General Manager Don Corsini and News Director Jason Ball wrote, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Burrous family. Chris loved sharing the stories of Southern California and connecting with our viewers. He will be remembered as a great journalist and a wonderful friend to many.”
Their sentiments were echoed by numerous social media posts by fellow KTLA reporters like fellow weekend desk anchor Lynette Romero, who wrote, “My tears now are for your sweet little girl, your wife Mai and your dear parents. We will miss you so.”
