The mystery of Jeffrey Epstein’s death: suicide or murder?
13 july 2025 в 21:13
Jeffrey Epstein still remains at the center of attention six years after his death. The late disgraced financier and convicted child sex offender’s death was contested by conspiracy theorists, who claimed that the surveillance video of the prison cell near Epstein’s cell was not reliable. Furthermore, his autopsy report raised questions. So, what really happened to Epstein when he died?
The official cause of Epstein’s death was ruled as suicide by hanging using a bedsheet, most likely by leaning forward from the top bunk of his bed to hang himself, according to law enforcement officials. However, conspiracy theorists dispute this.
On August 10, 2019, Epstein was found dead in his prison cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York. The Bureau of Prisons reported that life-saving measures were immediately performed on Epstein upon discovery, and first responders took him to the hospital. He was pronounced dead the same day.
The investigation by the Inspector General of the Department of Justice criticized prison guards and officials, accusing them of negligence, misconduct, and a complete failure in handling Epstein’s death, according to multiple sources.
On the night of Epstein’s death, prison officials did not check on him every 30 minutes. Two guards assigned to Epstein’s cell fell asleep and did not check on him for about three hours. Furthermore, they falsified records to cover up their mistake, according to The New York Times.
Epstein’s autopsy report raised doubts about the manner of his death. Dr. Michael Baden was present at Epstein’s autopsy and raised questions about fractures in his hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage, calling them «extremely unusual for suicidal hangings» and indicative of «homicidal strangulation».
«There's evidence here of homicide that should be investigated to determine whether it is homicide or not», - Baden said, according to PBS. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson, who conducted the autopsy, stated that she stands firmly by her conclusions on Epstein’s death.
As Baden pointed out, the injuries to his hyoid bone (located between the throat and trachea) and thyroid cartilage (between the base of a person’s jaw and their third cervical vertebra) appeared to be signs of criminal involvement.
However, this was not the first time Epstein had attempted suicide. On July 23, 2019, a few weeks before his death, Epstein was found semi-conscious in his cell on the floor with marks on his neck. He was placed on suicide watch. Less than a week later, prison officials removed him from suicide watch and placed him in a special housing unit.
After conspiracy theorists claimed there was a one-minute gap in the surveillance video of Epstein, the Department of Justice released footage in 2025. It showed only the exterior of Epstein’s cell on the night of his death, but no one was seen entering or exiting it.
Epstein’s neighbor in July 2019 was former New York City police officer Nicholas Tartaglione, awaiting trial on four murder charges. Tartaglione was not in the cell where Epstein died, and he was cleared of involvement in Epstein’s first apparent suicide attempt.
Epstein was supposed to have a cellmate assigned to him after his transfer to the special housing unit. However, this did not happen.
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional problems or thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1−800−273-TALK (8255)
The official cause of Epstein’s death was ruled as suicide by hanging using a bedsheet, most likely by leaning forward from the top bunk of his bed to hang himself, according to law enforcement officials. However, conspiracy theorists dispute this.
On August 10, 2019, Epstein was found dead in his prison cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York. The Bureau of Prisons reported that life-saving measures were immediately performed on Epstein upon discovery, and first responders took him to the hospital. He was pronounced dead the same day.
The investigation by the Inspector General of the Department of Justice criticized prison guards and officials, accusing them of negligence, misconduct, and a complete failure in handling Epstein’s death, according to multiple sources.
On the night of Epstein’s death, prison officials did not check on him every 30 minutes. Two guards assigned to Epstein’s cell fell asleep and did not check on him for about three hours. Furthermore, they falsified records to cover up their mistake, according to The New York Times.
Epstein’s autopsy report raised doubts about the manner of his death. Dr. Michael Baden was present at Epstein’s autopsy and raised questions about fractures in his hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage, calling them «extremely unusual for suicidal hangings» and indicative of «homicidal strangulation».
«There's evidence here of homicide that should be investigated to determine whether it is homicide or not», - Baden said, according to PBS. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson, who conducted the autopsy, stated that she stands firmly by her conclusions on Epstein’s death.
As Baden pointed out, the injuries to his hyoid bone (located between the throat and trachea) and thyroid cartilage (between the base of a person’s jaw and their third cervical vertebra) appeared to be signs of criminal involvement.
However, this was not the first time Epstein had attempted suicide. On July 23, 2019, a few weeks before his death, Epstein was found semi-conscious in his cell on the floor with marks on his neck. He was placed on suicide watch. Less than a week later, prison officials removed him from suicide watch and placed him in a special housing unit.
After conspiracy theorists claimed there was a one-minute gap in the surveillance video of Epstein, the Department of Justice released footage in 2025. It showed only the exterior of Epstein’s cell on the night of his death, but no one was seen entering or exiting it.
Epstein’s neighbor in July 2019 was former New York City police officer Nicholas Tartaglione, awaiting trial on four murder charges. Tartaglione was not in the cell where Epstein died, and he was cleared of involvement in Epstein’s first apparent suicide attempt.
Epstein was supposed to have a cellmate assigned to him after his transfer to the special housing unit. However, this did not happen.
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional problems or thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1−800−273-TALK (8255)
© Smirnova Olga
