The Death at MCC: Epstein's Final Days

What Happened at the Metropolitan Correctional Center?

On August 10, 2019, Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. The official ruling was suicide by hanging. The circumstances surrounding his death have been the subject of intense scrutiny and widespread skepticism.

The Timeline

• July 6, 2019 — Epstein arrested at Teterboro Airport on federal sex trafficking charges.
• July 23 — Found semi-conscious in his cell with marks on his neck. Cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione (a former police officer facing murder charges) was moved out.
• July 23-Aug 9 — Placed on suicide watch, then removed from suicide watch after just 6 days despite psychiatric assessment.
• August 9 — Guards failed to check on Epstein for approximately 8 hours. Both guards assigned to his unit fell asleep and later admitted to falsifying log records.
• August 10, 6:30 AM — Epstein found unresponsive in his cell.

The Irregularities

• Camera malfunction: Surveillance cameras outside Epstein's cell "malfunctioned" during the critical overnight period. Footage was either corrupted or missing.
• Guard negligence: The two guards assigned to Epstein's unit, Tova Noel and Michael Thomas, were working extreme overtime shifts. They were charged with conspiracy and filing false records, then offered deferred prosecution agreements.
• Broken hyoid bone: Epstein's hyoid bone was fractured — more common in homicidal strangulation than suicide by hanging, according to forensic experts consulted by the Epstein family.
• Removal from suicide watch: Despite a recent suicide attempt, Epstein was taken off watch after just 6 days, in an apparent deviation from standard protocol.

The Investigation

The DOJ Inspector General investigated and found "serious" failures but no evidence of foul play. Attorney General William Barr initially expressed skepticism, saying he'd seen the camera footage and was "satisfied" it was suicide, though he later acknowledged "serious irregularities."