This archive report was first published on 17 August 2019.
Jeffrey Epstein's Death Ruled a Suicide ¶
On August 10, 2019, the New York City medical examiner, Dr. Barbara Sampson, released a statement confirming that Jeffrey Epstein's death in a federal jail cell was a suicide. The determination came six days after Epstein, 66, was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, where he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
According to the medical examiner's office, Epstein had hanged himself, breaking several bones in his neck. The cause of death was determined to be 'hanging' and the manner was 'suicide.'
Epstein's death had sparked a wave of unfounded conspiracy theories, with some speculating he may have been killed to prevent him from providing information to prosecutors about others in his social circle, including President Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew of Britain.
However, the medical examiner's office and several experts cautioned against drawing conclusions, saying the broken bones were consistent with hanging, especially in an older man.
Epstein's death is the subject of four federal investigations, including by the Justice Department's inspector general and the F.B.I. The attorney general, William P. Barr, said there were 'serious irregularities' in how prison officials handled his supervision.
Epstein had previously avoided federal criminal charges in 2008, when he pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges in Florida in a plea agreement with federal prosecutors that resolved a similar set of allegations.
