Epstein death ‘not suicide’
Jeffrey Epstein did not kill himself, according to a leading forensic pathologist hired by the financier’s brother to examine his body.
Epstein’s death launched a series of conspiracy theories claiming that he had been murdered to prevent him from revealing information about the rich and powerful men in his social circle, who may have been involved in crimes such as sex trafficking.
It was Dr Michael Baden, a former chief medical examiner for New York City, who was hired by Mark Epstein to examine the circumstances of his elder brother’s death. ‘‘The brother doesn’t think it was suicide – he is concerned it might be murder,’’ said Baden.
Epstein was found dead in a New York jail on August 10, while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors.
On August 16, Barbara Sampson, the New York City chief medical examiner, ruled that the cause of death was
suicide by hanging. However, Baden came to a different conclusion, having viewed the body and been present at the autopsy the day after Epstein, 66, died. He also raised questions about the handling of Epstein’s corpse.
‘‘They rushed the body out of the jail, which they shouldn’t do because that destroys the evidence,’’ he said.
Epstein had two fractures on
the left and right sides of his larynx, Baden found. It was rare for any bones to be broken in a hanging, let alone multiple bones, he told the Miami Herald.
‘‘Those fractures ... could occur much more commonly in homicidal strangulation,’’ said Baden. There were haemorrhages in Epstein’s eyes that were also more common in strangulation than in hangings, he added.
Baden claimed that Dr Kristin Roman, the pathologist who conducted the official autopsy, had ruled that the manner of death was ‘‘pending’’. He added: ‘‘The autopsy did not support suicide ... Then Dr Sampson changed it a week later: manner of death to suicide. The brother has been trying to find out why that changed. What was the evidence?’’ His view echoed that of Jonathan
Arden, president of the National Association of Medical Examiners, who told The Washington Post that a broken hyoid bone in the neck was more commonly associated with strangulation.
Following the autopsy, it was revealed there were major security lapses at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
Two guards watching Epstein fell asleep and security cameras surrounding his cell were switched off.
William Barr, the US attorney general, ordered a federal investigation.
In response to Baden’s claims, Sampson said: ‘‘Our investigation concluded that the cause of Epstein’s death was hanging and the manner of death was suicide. We stand by that determination. We continue to share information ... with Mr Epstein’s family, their representatives, and their pathology consultant. The original medical investigation was thorough and complete. There is no reason for a second medical investigation by our office.’’
– Telegraph Group