Chris Burrous dies at 43; KTLA anchor found unresponsive in motel
Chris Burrous, an anchor on KTLA Channel 5’s “Morning News,†died Thursday after Glendale police found him unresponsive in a motel room, authorities said. He was 43.
At about 1:15 p.m., police were called to a room at the Days Inn, where they found Burrous not breathing, the Glendale Police Department said. Paramedics took him to a hospital, where he died, the department said.
“The original call to the Glendale Police Department indicated the deceased had possibly overdosed,†the department said in a news release.
Police detectives are investigating the death. Los Angeles County coroner’s officials performed an autopsy Friday, but the cause of death has been deferred pending further investigation.
In a statement, Don Corsini, president and general manager of KTLA, and Jason Ball, the station’s news director, remembered the anchor as a “great journalist and a wonderful friend to many.â€
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Burrous family. Chris loved sharing the stories of Southern California and connecting with our viewers,†the statement said. “He brought a kindness to his work and will be deeply missed by the entire KTLA family.â€
Burrous earned a broadcast journalism degree from Chapman University and joined KTLA in 2011 after 14 years as a reporter and anchor at news stations across the country, mostly in the Central Valley.
Burrous helped expand “Morning News†to a seven-day program, anchoring weekends and covering breaking news on weekday mornings, the station said.
“There are no words. When we took this picture during our show I had no idea it would our last time together. You made me laugh until I cried. My tears now are for your sweet little girl, your wife Mai and your dear parents. We will miss you so,†his co-anchor, Lynette Romero, wrote on Twitter.
KTLA colleague Liberte Chan told the station, “He was a master of live television. I miss him so much. I’m sorry I don’t have the words to express exactly how I feel but he was more than just a colleague, he was one of my best friends here and I’m just so heartbroken over the loss of him.â€
Twitter: @AleneTchek
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