MASTERCHEF Finalist Josh Marks Found Dead in Chicago of Apparent Suicide

By: TV News Desk Oct. 12, 2013

TMZ reports that Josh Marks, finalist for season three of Fox's MASTERCHEF and U.S. Army Contract Specialist from Jackson, Miss., was found dead in a Chicago alleyway with a gunshot wound to the head. Investigations are still on-going, but officials say they believe Marks committed suicide.

Read the original report here.

This discovery follows Marks' July run-in with the University of Chicago police, during which he allegedly punched an officer and attempted to take his gun, then took off running. He was eventually subdued by five officers and arrested.

Police said after the July arrest, Marks claimed to have been possessed by MASTERCHEF judge Gordon Ramsay, who turned him into God.

Prior to his arrest this summer, Marks released a video for the "Make a Sound Project" in which he revealed he suffers from bipolar disorder and has struggled with suicidal thoughts.

Reporting on Marks' death, The Chicago Tribune writes that "an acquaintance and two relatives of the victim were on the scene and one of the relatives told police that the victim suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and he was distraught about something."