Strange behavior, poor living conditions,
and a call to his late mother? Here's what Jeffrey Epstein's life in jail was really like.
In 2019, disgraced New York financier Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell.
At the time, he was awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy, with as many
as 80 women and girls alleging that they had been trafficked by Epstein,
per Insider. Several high-profile individuals, including Prince Andrew,
were allegedly implicated as being members of Epstein's inner circle, according to Reuters.
Epstein was previously arrested in 2008 for solicitation of prostitution involving a minor,
among other charges, but only served 13 months in jail as part of a plea deal, per Insider. However,
by 2019, Epstein's fall from the highest levels of New York society seemed complete.
Epstein died while in custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, also known as the M.C.C.
Some remain skeptical that Epstein's death was a suicide, because he denied being suicidal in
the days leading up to his death, among other irregularities. Some also speculate that he
may have had help in the act, The New York Times reported. Conditions at the M.C.C. were a far cry
from the luxury lifestyle Epstein had been used to, which had included private jets and private
island retreats. And as reported by The Times, the M.C.C. was temporarily closed down in 2021
due to its poor conditions, giving some indication of what Epstein's final days in jail were like.
"Investigators are trying to determine
what happened to Epstein inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center."
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey,
per The New York Times. A justice department indictment had implicated him in dozens of sex
acts with minors, among other charges, leading to his arrest. If convicted of those crimes,
Epstein could have faced up to 45 years in prison. Despite the high-profile nature of
his case, Epstein first entered the M.C.C. as part of the jail's general population,
and as a result, restrictions on his life were relatively light.
The fact that Epstein was not placed in a more restrictive
circumstance was later attributed to an oversight,
just one of many that would allegedly happen in the days leading up to Epstein's death.
Once Epstein's status at the M.C.C was discovered, he was moved from the general jail population to
the Special Housing Unit, also known as the S.H.U.. From the time that he first arrived,
Epstein was described as looking sad, dazed, confused, and withdrawn, based on Federal Bureau
of Prison records obtained by The New York Times. Plus, concern for Epstein's mental reportedly
well-being worsened after his move to the S.H.U. It was expected that Epstein would be denied bail.
As a result, he underwent and passed several psychological evaluations
and was put under "psychological observation" described by The Times
as one step away from suicide watch. While under psychological observation,
specially designated inmates reportedly filed reports every 15 minutes on Epstein's status.
Epstein reportedly continued to tell jailhouse staff that he would never attempt suicide.
However, some who filed reports on his activities while under "psychological
observation" provided a different picture. For instance, Epstein was allegedly observed sitting
for a prolonged period with his head in his hands, according to The New York Times. Still,
Epstein reportedly remained talkative and continued to state that he had much to live
for. The Federal Bureau of Prison records indicate he did not sleep well, though,
and he lodged complaints over the noisy conditions in the jail and the quality of the food.
Epstein also continued to receive visits from his defense attorneys and denied any
wrongdoing related to the sex abuse charges he faced. Despite those protestations, Epstein
reportedly unsuccessfully attempted suicide while in jail, per CNBC. After the denial of a
second bail attempt, it reportedly seemed clear to Epstein and his defense team that his case would
likely go to trial and that further bail requests would be denied. An inmate was subsequently placed
in Epstein's cell, but when Epstein's sleep was further disrupted, he was left alone once again.
"His cellmate was released and not replaced earlier in the day."
Prior to his death, Epstein made a phone call, and he allegedly claimed he'd spoken to his
late mother. It was later revealed that he had actually spoken to his girlfriend,
and returned to his jail cell after the conversation. Epstein was found
the next morning with a bedsheet around his neck and declared dead a short time later.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.