French modelling scout linked to Epstein found dead

Model scout Daniel Siad, who had ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead at his home outside Paris, prosecutors said.

Siad’s body was found Monday evening. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office said in a statement on Wednesday that an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death. Siad’s name was mentioned nearly 2000 times in the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice.

According to French media, at least five women accused 69-year-old Siad of rape and human trafficking, while Siad denied the allegations.

Siad’s lawyer said in an emailed statement to Reuters that the model scout had never been formally the subject of judicial proceedings.

In France, suspects are subject to official investigation only after a preliminary investigation; This means that investigating judges consider there are reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has been committed.

Siad told French broadcaster BFM in May that his relationship with Epstein was strictly professional.

“Daniel Siad never stopped declaring his innocence,” said his lawyer Meyna Arab-Tigrine. He added that Siad died of a heart attack.

Siad is the second person with clear ties to Epstein to die in France. French authorities arrested modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel in 2020 following allegations that he procured women for Epstein.

Brunel, who was detained for 14 months and awaiting trial on charges of rape and sexual harassment of minors, was found hanged in his cell in 2022. He denied the accusations as well as any involvement in Epstein’s sex trafficking.

Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.