Jeffrey Epstein's death by suicide raises questions about MCC security

Jeffrey Epstein.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The morning after new documents were unsealed in his case, Jeffrey Epstein, the millionaire financier who was charged with sex trafficking minors, was found dead by suicide on Saturday morning at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, three law enforcement officials told ABC News. He reportedly hanged himself.

The 66-year-old Epstein was being held in the Manhattan jail while awaiting trial after being denied bail following his indictment. Epstein, who has been accused of trafficking minors as young as 14 between 2002 and 2005 in New York and Florida, was previously found in his cell in July semi-conscious with marks around his neck from what two sources said may have been an attempt to hang himself, while other sources suggested he may have faked, or actually been the victim of, an attack.

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Tim O'Donnell

Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.