Did Epstein Die A Day Before He Was Officially Pronounced Dead? New DOJ Files Raise Questions

Last Updated:February 08, 2026, 15:00 IST

Epstein was held at the Manhattan jail since July 6, 2019, after being charged with sex trafficking minors and conspiracy, till August 9, 2019, where he allegedly died by suicide.

A US government statement announcing Jeffrey Epstein’s death has surfaced in newly released Justice Department files, carrying a date that appears to come before he was officially found dead in his New York prison cell, once again raising question over his suicide theory. 

According to a Daily Mail report, the document, issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and dated Friday, August 9, 2019, states that Epstein had already been found unresponsive and pronounced dead. However, prison records and official accounts show he was not discovered unresponsive until the morning of August 10, 2019, when a corrections officer delivering breakfast found him at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan.

What the statement said?

In the statement, then Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey S Berman said, “Earlier this morning, the Manhattan Correctional Center confirmed that Jeffrey Epstein… had been found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead shortly thereafter."

He added, “Today’s events are disturbing… To those brave young women who have already come forward… we remain committed to standing for you."

Timeline of Epstein’s death

Epstein, 66, had been held at the Manhattan jail since July 6, 2019, after being charged with sex trafficking minors and conspiracy. He pleaded not guilty and was awaiting trial.

According to official accounts, he was discovered unresponsive shortly after 6:30am on August 10. Medical staff tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead. The New York City medical examiner ruled it a suicide by hanging.

Failures inside the prison

Records show guards did not conduct required checks overnight. Scheduled rounds at 3 am and 5 am were missed. Cameras outside Epstein’s cell were also not functioning properly.

At least two surveillance cameras had malfunctioned, leaving gaps in visual monitoring. Officials were unable to establish a definitive timeline of his final moments, and no precise official time of death has been determined.

New revelations

Newly released DOJ files include details investigators reviewed after his death. FBI and Justice Department inspectors noted footage showing what appeared to be an unidentified figure moving toward the floor where Epstein was housed.

The footage reportedly showed an orange-coloured shape ascending a staircase near his unit overnight. Investigators did not conclude whether the figure had any link to Epstein or his death. Camera failures prevented a complete visual record.

Case ended but investigations continued

Epstein’s death halted one of the most closely watched federal criminal cases. Prosecutors had accused him of running a long-term sex trafficking operation involving underage girls.

His arrest in July 2019 followed scrutiny over a 2008 Florida plea deal. The new charges in New York exposed him to decades in prison. His death ended the case against him but not investigations into possible co-conspirators.

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