Epstein files offer new details on his death in jail cel
derek hawkins
Among the tens of thousands of Jeffrey Epstein files released so far by the Justice Department are documents that provide new details about his death in federal custody in 2019, one of the most controversial aspects of the case.
Epstein, who was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019, had been locked up in the now-closed Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York for five weeks and was found dead in his cell around 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 10.
He had been denied bail and, at age 66, faced a potential 45-year prison sentence if convicted on all charges. The day before his death, federal judges in a separate civil case unsealed 2,000 pages of records containing his alleged sexual abuse of girls and young women.
Six days after his death, New York City’s chief medical examiner, Barbara Sampson, whose office performed an autopsy on Epstein’s body, issued a finding that Epstein had hanged himself.
Since then, a wide range of people, including members of Congress and some prominent supporters of US President Donald Trump, have disputed that conclusion, arguing that there is no evidence that Epstein was killed and offering theories about who might have done it.
The documents disclosed so far do not support these theories.
They provide further evidence of the conclusion in previous investigations by both the Justice Department and media outlets that prison officials failed to properly monitor Epstein, even though they had previously placed him on suicide watch.
Following Epstein’s death, two prison staff members were accused of failing to monitor him. Prosecutors said they slept during part of their shifts, wasted time shopping online and forged logbooks to hide the fact that they were not checking every 30 minutes. They eventually reached an agreement to avoid trial. Prison officials left Epstein alone in his cell despite strict instructions.
In the early hours of July 23, 2019, several weeks after Epstein arrived at the prison, workers found him semi-conscious on the floor of his cell with a makeshift orange noose around his neck, according to an investigative report in one of the sets of documents the Federal Bureau of Prisons released during the week.
Previous suicide attempts have been widely reported, but newly released documents provide new details.
The Bureau of Prisons did not respond to questions about Epstein’s incarceration and death.
After trying to get him to his feet, staff tied his hands and legs and carried him out on a stretcher, the report said. Medical evaluation revealed redness and abrasions on his neck. Photos in the report, marked at 1:45 and labeled “possible suicide attempt,” show a disheveled Epstein, wearing a blue anti-suicide smock, his skin slightly red above his collarbone.
Authorities placed Epstein on suicide watch. An observation diary from the morning of this suicide attempt was also among the documents released by the Ministry of Justice this week. It shows handwritten notes from two staff members entered at 15-minute intervals.
A note from 2:15 a.m. states that Epstein “stated that his cellmate was trying to kill him.” The investigation report also states that Epstein told a police officer that his cellmate “attempted to kill him and was harassing him.”
At the time, Epstein was staying with Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer who was later convicted of quadruple murder and sentenced to life in prison. Tartaglione and Epstein later said they had no problems with each other, according to jail documents. Investigators found no significant evidence that Tartaglione assaulted Epstein.
The 02:30 note in the suicide watch log reads: “prisoner sits on bed trying to remember what happened”. Later notes simply read “prisoner sitting on the bed” and “prisoner standing at the door.”
According to the investigative report, Epstein told investigators in a July 31 interview that he had not slept in “approximately 20 days.” He said that while he was on the ground, he woke up to the sound of snoring, which appeared to be his own.
According to the report, Tartaglione said he felt something hit his foot while he was sleeping on the cell floor. When she woke up, she saw Epstein snoring with his eyes open and thought he was having a heart attack, according to the report.
According to the medical form the Bureau of Prisons filled out that morning, Epstein appeared to be recovering quickly from the effects of his suicide attempt. A paramedic noted that he was breathing normally, did not appear distressed, and was smiling during the visit. The document said he refused to talk about what led up to the incident, saying only that he “went to get some water and [woke] snoring”.
A separate document appears to include notes from an interview with a prison psychologist who observed Epstein for the following two weeks.
According to the notes, Epstein avoided asking questions about the incident and said killing himself was against his religion. “E said she didn’t like pain and didn’t want to hurt herself,” one item read.
“There are no signs in the logbooks indicating suicidal tendencies or attendance at legal meetings,” said another. Other notes indicate that Epstein was trying to avoid being transferred back to a special holding facility.
Another logbook, from July 24 to July 30, 2019, shows that Epstein was allowed basic comforts such as normal clothing, newspapers and magazines, books, legal mail, and a “security toothbrush” while under psychological observation.
He chatted with employees about investment strategies and prison life, visited with lawyers, showered and slept, records show.
The documents also include correspondence from the same period between an assistant prison warden and a Bureau of Prisons regional director who sought daily updates on Epstein following his apparent suicide attempt.
A Bureau of Prisons spokesman did not respond to a message seeking comment on those arrangements or other details in the correspondence.
Less than 48 hours after the apparent suicide attempt, the deputy warden emailed the district warden to say that Epstein could face a disciplinary hearing for violating the prison’s ban on “self-injury.”
A doctor “stated that he would likely be found competent because he was not mentally ill,” the email said. “We have supporting notes stating that responding officers observed inmate Epstein with a makeshift noose around his neck.”
Other emails from senders whose names have been redacted show prison officials tracked Epstein’s progress in the days leading up to his death in custody.
In a July 26 email, the prison’s chief psychologist noted that a psychologist at Bureau of Prisons headquarters in Washington was “concerned that I would send him to psychiatrists instead of keeping him on SW,” possibly referring to suicide watch.
“I presented my reasoning and felt it was appropriate, but I want to make sure I still felt that way when I was interviewed today,” the email said.
Another opinion claimed that Epstein spent “approximately 12 hours” with his lawyer and complained of dehydration due to limited restroom breaks.
“He also complained about having to return to the SHU,” the July 27 email said, referring to the special housing unit used for inmates with psychiatric problems who require extra supervision. The sender added that Epstein was “concerned about this and was concerned that he couldn’t sleep there at night because of the inmates hitting each other and screaming.”
An email sent the next morning said: “Inmate Epstein appears to be psychologically stable.”
Prison staff returned Epstein to private housing on July 30.
In the following days, Epstein’s lawyers wrote a letter to prison officials complaining about his situation. They said there was no toilet paper, the CPAP machine used for sleep apnea was disconnected and officers were only allowed two 15-minute calls via speakerphone while they were present, according to redacted emails.
Prison staff delivering Epstein’s breakfast on Aug. 10 found him unresponsive in his cell, according to the documents.
Lifeline 13 11 14; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.
