A collection of graphic photographs depicting the aftermath of Jeffrey Epstein’s death in federal custody has been made public. The images were included in a recently declassified FBI report published by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The pictures show the convicted sex offender, who was awaiting trial on trafficking charges, shirtless on a medical stretcher as emergency personnel attempt resuscitation. Visible in one photograph is a distinct injury to his neck. The images are timestamped shortly after he was discovered unresponsive in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York on August 10, 2019. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
The release also includes detailed forensic and psychological records. A post-mortem examination report notes specific fractures in the cartilage of Epstein’s neck. Contradicting the official ruling of suicide, psychological assessments from July 2019 quote Epstein as stating he had “no interest in killing myself” and believed it “would be crazy” to do so, insisting he was focused on fighting the charges against him.
The documents highlight significant security lapses. Despite being placed on suicide watch after a previous attempt in July, and explicit instructions that he should not be left alone, prison guards failed to conduct required checks for a two-hour period on the night before his death. Furthermore, the surveillance system in his cell was reportedly non-functional at the time. Notably, his cellmate had been transferred out of the cell the day prior.
The release of these materials renews scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding one of the most high-profile deaths in recent American legal history.