Enlarge image
Epstein in July 2008: Gifted manipulator
Photo: Uma Sanghvi / Palm Beach Post / AP
Rumors of the circumstances surrounding his death have been rumored since former investment banker and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in August 2019.
The autopsy report assumes a suicide.
Epstein was imprisoned for building a system to sexually abuse minors.
Since he also had many prominent and influential friends, the theory arose that he might have been killed to prevent his testimony in court.
The New York Times has now evaluated previously unknown documents in 2000 and published a detailed report that should trace the last 36 days of Epstein's life in detail.
In it he is portrayed as a gifted manipulator who wanted to convince the prison psychologist that he had no intention of killing himself.
"I'm not interested in killing myself," Epstein is said to have said, describing himself as a "coward" who could never harm himself.
At the same time, the documents appear to show that Epstein attempted suicide four weeks before his death.
The report concludes that by the time he died, Epstein knew how to deceive the prison staff and any experts who should keep an eye on him around the clock, as he was considered suicidal.
It was only because he was so convincing and played his role perfectly that the decisive mistakes and surveillance gaps occurred that made the suicide possible for him.
Nights alone in the cell
On the night of his death, Epstein is said to have told the guards that he wanted to call his mother, even though she was long dead.
In fact, he called his girlfriend.
He was allowed to spend the nights alone in his cell, although it had actually been ordered that he should share the cell and someone should always be with him.
Epstein is said to have spoken openly about his friendships with celebrities in his last days.
According to the official prison records, however, he did not mention any names.
mmm