‘MasterChef’ Finalist Josh Marks Commits Suicide

Former MasterChef finalist Josh Marks committed suicide on Friday night, according to a coroner’s report released Saturday. The report added that Marks died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Along with appearing on MasterChef, Marks was in the news a few months ago when he was arrested for assaulting a police officer at the University of Chicago.

The Chicago Tribune reports that police responded to a call of a body found around 6:45 pm local time Friday night. When they appeared on the scene, they found Marks lying face up on the ground, unresponsive and bleeding from a head wound.

Police added that an acquaintance and two relatives of the MasterChef finalist were on the scene of the apparent suicide. A relative told police that the victim suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He was apparently upset about something when he took his own life.

At the time of his arrest in July, The Huffington Post reports that Josh Marks claimed he was possessed by MasterChef star Chef Gordon Ramsay and turned into God. At the time, Marks’ attorney stated via Facebook, “The Josh that you are hearing about in police reports this morning is not the Gentle Giant that we know.”

Marks, standing more than seven feet tall, was an imposing figure, but he was also known for his kindness. However, Marks was still charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer, and attempting to disarm a police officer, for the July 29 arrest. All of the charges against him were felonies.

Marks’ case was up in court on Wednesday and Judge Carol Howard granted a continuance to November 6. It is unclear what will happen with the case now that the defendant is gone. Josh Marks finished second to winner Christine Ha in MasterChef’s third season. He taught himself how to cook.