WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: A bombshell report claims Jeffrey Epstein attempted to kill himself at least three times before his death in 2019. ‘Nooses’ were allegedly ‘littered’ around his cell
Jeffrey Epstein attempted to take his own life three times while in prison, a bombshell report claims. The shocking document alleges the paedo had multiple “nooses littered” all over his cell.
Epstein was found hanged in his cell in August 2019 but the circumstances of his death have fuelled years of speculation. A new investigation now claims the late paedophile attempted to end his life at least three times before he was found dead – and that prison guards “laughed off” warnings about it.
Ex-cop and convicted murderer Nicolas Tartaglione was briefly Epstein’s cellmate at the now-closed Metropolitan Correctional Center, where the child sex offender was being held as he awaited trial.
Tartaglione, 56, told The New York Times that Epstein asked him how to make a noose before his first attempt to end his life on July 22, 2019. At this stage, the disgraced financier had spent 13 days in custody after being denied bail.
Tartaglione claimed he then witnessed two more attempts by Epstein to end his life. The ex-cop and convicted murderer claimed Epstein tied a sheet to a grate above the cell window.
In another, Tartaglione said he woke to find Epstein looking “a little suspicious” before discovering a homemade noose under the financier’s mattress. The former officer told the outlet he was “laughed off” when he reported both incidents.
Another inmate, Peter Bright, later corroborated parts of Tartaglione’s account, saying Tartaglione had told him about the alleged attempts shortly after Epstein’s death.
Tartaglione also reportedly claimed he found the paedo lying motionless on the floor with an orange fabric noose around his neck on July 22. Epstein later alleged his cellmate had tried to kill him, but an internal investigation cleared Tartaglione.
An internal prison service memo, headed “Possible Suicide Attempt”, said an officer was called to Epstein’s cell at 1.27am. A guard reportedly wrote: “Epstein had indicated that his cellmate had attempted to kill him and had been harassing him.
“I observed inmate Jeffrey Epstein lying in the foetal position on the floor of his cell, wearing a T-shirt and boxers. He was breathing heavily.”
Epstein was taken out on a stretcher and moved to a special unit for observation before being placed on suicide watch, according to the report.
The New York Times also alleged Epstein had been left “alone in his cell in spite of clear guidance to the contrary” and that “evidence from his cell was not catalogued carefully”, arguing slip-ups helped create “mysteries” around his death.
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.