Times Investigation Finds Epstein Attempted Suicide at Least 1 Time Before 2019 Death
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 16
Times Investigation Finds Epstein Attempted Suicide at Least 1 Time Before 2019 Death
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 16
Summary
Newly released documents, Epstein’s jail notes and dozens of interviews led the Times to conclude he had discussed suicide for weeks and likely tried to kill himself at least once, possibly three times, before his August 2019 death.
A failed hanging attempt about 2 1/2 weeks earlier was interrupted by his cellmate, and a note found days later closely matched other jail writings by Epstein, the report said.
That cellmate also told the Times he twice caught Epstein preparing to hang himself and said corrections officers did not take his warnings seriously.
The investigation found some details of Epstein’s final days remain unclear, but said a murder would have required an elaborate plot involving numerous people with detailed knowledge of the jail’s security failures and protocols.
Nearly 7 years after the death in federal custody was ruled a suicide, the findings aim to counter enduring public suspicion that Epstein was killed to silence him.