In cell where Jeffrey Epstein died, a scene of disarray that never underwent inspection

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New Photos Expose Chaos in Jeffrey Epstein's Jail Cell, Highlighting Investigation Failures

Last updated 42 minutes ago

CBS News has obtained 90 photographs from Jeffrey Epstein's cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, taken shortly after his August 10, 2019 death, revealing a disorganized scene with disturbed items like a mattress on the floor and tangled bedsheets. Forensic experts, including former NYPD detective Herman Weisberg, criticize the federal investigation for ignoring basic protocols, such as lacking evidence markers, moving items before documentation, removing Epstein's body prior to inspection, delaying witness interviews by nearly two years, and skipping DNA tests on ligature materials. These revelations, combined with recently released FBI video showing missing footage, intensify scrutiny of the official suicide ruling in Epstein's high-profile sex trafficking case.

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The federal investigation into the death of convicted sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was marred by significant lapses, experts told CBS News, including the failure by investigators to interview potential witnesses, properly preserve certain evidence and run basic forensic tests.

Nearly two years passed before investigators interviewed the two key corrections officers on duty the night Epstein died in his cell in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown New York City, in what was later ruled a suicide, according to court documents. One of those officers was the only person to attest to seeing Epstein hanging by a bedsheet from his bunk.

And details pulled from 90 photos of the cell and other evidence collected in the hours after Epstein's death — but before FBI agents arrived to process the scene — appear to show a succession of basic oversights, ranging from an absence of evidence markers to items being moved, experts told CBS News.

"The FBI literally has all of the best tools. I mean, spared no expense. They have every tool you can imagine. And they used none of it as far as we can tell," forensic analyst Nick Barreiro said after reviewing the photos, many of which have never been published. "How are there not way more people pointing out the absurdity of this?"

The images were previously obtained by 60 Minutes. After the recent release of surveillance video from the night Epstein died, which appeared to show details that contradicted official reports, CBS News reviewed them and other documents with several forensic experts.

The results of the federal investigation were made public in 2023, four years after Epstein's death, in a report by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. It concluded that the financier, who entered a guilty plea in 2008 on state-level charges of procuring a child for prostitution, died by suicide. That matched the findings shared by Attorney General William Barr, who told Congress in August he had no doubts that Epstein had taken his own life. But lingering questions, raised by individuals including Epstein's lawyers and brother, have fueled continued speculation and suspicion.

CBS

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