On August 10, 2019, Jeffrey Epstein was discovered unresponsive in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan, a noose fashioned from a bedsheet around his neck. Guards performed CPR before rushing him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The New York City Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide by hanging, a conclusion reaffirmed by federal investigations.
Yet the handling of the cell scene has drawn sharp criticism from forensic experts. Epstein’s body was removed before proper crime scene protocols could be followed, violating Bureau of Prisons guidelines that mandate treating suicide scenes like potential homicides. No photos exist of his body in the exact position found, depriving investigators of key evidence about posture, ligature placement, and lividity.
Photos obtained by CBS News’ 60 Minutes in 2020—and revisited in 2025 file releases—reveal chaos: scattered linens, items displaced, no evidence markers, and signs of disturbance. FBI agents arrived over seven hours later to find the cell rifled through. Experts like forensic pathologist Michael Baden, hired by Epstein’s family, and analyst Nick Barreiro described the processing as “shoddy,” noting the FBI deployed none of its advanced tools despite the high-profile case.
Baden highlighted that removing the body prematurely obscured critical details, such as time of death. Other pathologists note the absence of in-situ documentation hampered verifying the hanging mechanism against autopsy findings, including neck fractures.
The 2023 DOJ Inspector General report detailed broader MCC failures—malfunctioning cameras, falsified checks, no cellmate—but found no foul play. Still, experts argue the scene’s mishandling created avoidable gaps, fueling enduring skepticism. In a case involving powerful connections and institutional lapses, the lack of rigorous forensic preservation in that Manhattan cell continues to raise questions no official probe has fully quelled.
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