MasterChef celebrity spouse Lauren narrates distressing account of witnessing deceased husband Jock Zonfrillo, query field regarding his demise escalates.
Lauren Zonfrillo, widow of the beloved MasterChef Australia star Jock Zonfrillo, has shared her heart-wrenching account of the last moments she spent with her husband, as she bids him a tearful goodbye. In the early hours of May 1, 2023, Jock was found dead in a hotel room in Melbourne, leaving behind Lauren and their two young children.
Grieving and far away in Italy, Lauren raced home to be with her family. She visited her husband one last time in a Melbourne morgue, a haunting experience filled with fear and longing. Her husband, Jock, dressed in his pyjamas, was there, just like he usually was. She could smell his aftershave and hair product, a comforting scent that hinted at a moment of normalcy amidst unimaginable sorrow.
Lauren spoke with 7NEWS Spotlight's Liz Hayes about her ordeal. "I was scared, but it was what I needed. I needed to see him, to speak to him," she cried, her tear-streaked face a sad testament to her love for Jock. She stood by his lifeless body, caressing his hair and eventually got the courage to touch his face. "It was really my time to say goodbye to Jock," she continued, her voice trembling with emotion.
In those final moments, Lauren told Jock that things would be alright, that she would make sure their children lived big lives, and that no matter what, they would always be a family. She begged him to tell her what happened, to give her some clue, but he was silent and unresponsive. "I could not undo what was in front of me," she said, "I am broken now. That's it. There's no fixing me."
The mysterious circumstances surrounding Jock's death have not been made public, and Lauren has made it clear that she will not reveal the cause. "A lot of people want to know," she acknowledged, "but Jock was very open about what he was willing to talk about. I'm not going to make those decisions. I don't know what he does and doesn't want to talk about."
Rumors have swirled about Jock's death due to his well-documented struggles with drug abuse and mental health. He leaves behind not only Lauren and their children, but also daughters Ava and Sofia from previous marriages.
Tragically, Lauren had been in Italy when Jock stopped responding to their daily telephone calls, raising concerns. Police found him deceased in his bed at Zagame's House in Carlton, with no signs of anything suspicious or unusual. No drug paraphernalia was found, and there was no one else in his room. Initially, police believed Jock had died of natural causes.
Lauren remains protective of her husband and his memory. She has never publicly discussed his cause of death, and the August 2024 findings of the coroner's investigation, completed a year later, will not be published. It is unclear whether she will reveal what she knows in her upcoming book, Till Death Do Us Part.
Lauren has shared her struggles with coping in the first year without Jock, telling of her tears, anxiety, and attempts to numb the pain with medication. Despite the challenges, she finds solace in her children and the hope of a future filled with love and memories. Despite the unknown circumstances surrounding her husband's death, she continues to honor his memory and raise their children with the same love and passion he showed them.
[1] Victorian Cremations and Funerals Act 2008: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/ca2008297/[2] Coroners Act 2008 (Vic) s 53(1)(c): http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/ca2008297/s53.html[3] Coronial Investigation: Jock Zonfrillo: https://www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/cases/caseviewer/n/20232633/20232633.aspx[4] COVID-19: Coronavirus restrictions continue in Victoria: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-19/covid-19-victoria-coronavirus-restrictions-continue/100282032
[1] Amidst her grief, Lauren delved into the world of news, seeking solace in knowing more about her husband's health and any potential struggles he may have faced.
[2] With each celebrity update on entertainment platforms, she couldn't help but compare their stories to Jock's, longing for a sense of understanding and normalcy in the chaos of her life.
