'MasterChef' Contestant Joshua Marks Found Dead In Reported Suicide

By Jon Graef in News on Oct 12, 2013 7:30PM

[Via Facebook]

Joshua Marks, the 26-year-old Chicagoan chef who competed in the Fox reality TV show "MasterChef," was found shot in a South Side alley last night. He died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The Chicago Tribune reports that a revolver was found near Marks's body:

Police responded to a call of a body found at 6:45 p.m. Friday in the 9700 block of South Peoria Avenue in the city's Longwood Manor neighborhood and found Marks lying face up on the ground, unresponsive and bleeding from the head. Fire department personnel were already there.

The victim, of the South Side, was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m. on the scene, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Marks was featured in the third season "MasterChef," where he ultimately lost to Christine Ha.

This tragic news comes months after Marks was arrested for assaulting an officer, all the while saying he'd been possessed by "MasterChef" Gordon Ramsay, who turned him into God.

Marks reportedly suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according the acquainted and relatives who spoke with the Tribune. He spoke about his struggle with mental illness on behalf of a suicide awareness program recently

An autopsy is to be completed this weekend, according to CNN. Marks was reportedly living in the city's Washington Heights neighborhood at the time of his death.

Ramsay tweeted about Marks's death Saturday:

Just heard the devastating news about Josh Marks. My thoughts are with his family & friends at this tragic time.

— Gordon Ramsay (@GordonRamsay) October 12, 2013