Top chef Benoit Violier was discovered dead in his home in Crissier, Switzerland in an apparent suicide, police have confirmed. He was 44.
"Late in the afternoon, police ... went to Crissier where they discovered at his home the body of Mr. Benoit Violier," Swiss police said in a statement, according to AFP. The authorities added that he had apparently shot himself.
Prior to his death, Violier, born in France, had been due to make an appearance at the launch of the new Michelin guide in Paris on Monday, according to 24 Heures.
Violier ran Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville in Crissier, which is located near the city of Lausanne. It received three Michelin stars and topped France's La Liste ranking of the 1,000 best eateries in the world.
Violier's death followed the death of Philippe Rochat, his mentor and the chef he succeeded at Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville, who died after falling ill while bicycling in July 2015.
Violier had worked at the restaurant since 1996 and took the reins along with his wife, Brigitte, in 2012, and acquired his Swiss nationality, according to BBC News.
Another three-star rated Swiss chef, Fredy Girardet, told BBC: "He was a brilliant man. Such talent, and an amazing capacity for work. He was so kind, with so many qualities. He gave the impression of being perfect."
As Violier used to say, "Nothing is ever definitive, everything must be repeated every day."
