08.02.2026 10:30
In a document dated August 9, 2019, from the Southern District of New York Attorney's Office, it is stated that Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell, while official prison records show that Epstein was only discovered in his cell after 6:30 AM on August 10. The discrepancy between the date on the document and the time Epstein was officially found has raised uncertainties regarding the timing of his death.
A document published by the Manhattan Southern District Attorney's Office, dated Friday, August 9, 2019, states that Jeffrey Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell and shortly thereafter passed away. However, prison records and official reports reveal that Epstein was in his cell during breakfast distribution by a staff member after 6:30 AM on August 10, 2019.
"FOUND DEAD THIS MORNING" STATEMENT CAUGHT ATTENTION
The statement included then-Manhattan District Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman, who said, "This morning, the Manhattan Correctional Facility confirmed that Jeffrey Epstein, who was facing charges of child trafficking, was found unresponsive in his cell and shortly thereafter passed away." The statement also emphasized that Epstein's death could pose a new obstacle to the victims' pursuit of justice and noted that the investigation would continue with determination. However, the discrepancy between the date on the document and the time Epstein was officially found has raised uncertainties regarding the timing of his death.
NO CLEAR TIME OF DEATH IN OFFICIAL RECORDS
According to federal prosecutors, Epstein was arrested on July 6, 2019, on charges of child trafficking and conspiracy and was placed in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. Denying the charges, Epstein passed away in prison a little over a month later while awaiting trial. Official records indicate that a prison officer found Epstein motionless in his cell on the morning of August 10. Health teams intervened, but Epstein passed away shortly thereafter. The New York Medical Examiner's Office later recorded the death as "suicide by hanging."
SECURITY FAILURES AND CAMERA MALFUNCTIONS
Epstein's death also revealed serious lapses at the facility known as one of the safest federal prisons in the U.S. Prison records showed that the guards responsible for monitoring Epstein did not conduct mandatory checks throughout the night. According to official reports, patrols at 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM were not carried out. Additionally, it was determined that at least two security cameras in front of Epstein's cell were not operational that night. Due to these malfunctions, authorities were unable to establish a definitive timeline regarding Epstein's final hours. To date, the exact time of Epstein's death has not been officially determined.
NEW FOOTAGE, NEW QUESTIONS
The new Justice Department files released this week included some surveillance footage examined by the FBI and the Office of the Inspector General after the death. The documents reported that an unidentified figure was seen moving toward the floor where Epstein was staying, and an orange silhouette emerging from the stairs drew attention. However, authorities could not establish a direct connection between these images and Epstein's death.
LAWSUIT ENDED, INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE
Epstein's death abruptly ended one of the most closely followed criminal cases in the U.S. in recent years. Prosecutors had accused Epstein of running a vast sex trafficking network involving numerous underage girls for years. The case in New York was facing Epstein with decades of prison time.
Although Epstein's death closed the main case, federal authorities announced that investigations into possible accomplices were ongoing. According to the Daily Mail, the U.S. Department of Justice has not yet made an official comment regarding the new documents.