Nearly six years after the death of financier Jeffrey Epstein, newly disclosed surveillance video offers a detailed account of his final hours in custody. The footage, released alongside the formal conclusion of the federal investigation, depicts the events inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York on the night of August 9, 2019.
The video, spanning approximately eleven hours, shows Epstein—handcuffed and wearing an orange prison uniform—being escorted by a guard to his cell shortly before 8 p.m. In the hours that follow, the recordings indicate minimal activity near his cell. A guard is seen walking toward the area around 10:30 p.m., but no one is recorded entering the cell until the following morning, when staff arrived with breakfast and discovered he had died.
Federal authorities have stated the footage corroborates the official finding of suicide by hanging. In a statement, the FBI noted that enhanced video analysis revealed no evidence of visitors or unauthorized persons at the cell door prior to his death. “The forensic evidence, the video evidence, and the medical examiner’s report are consistent,” an official said. “There is no indication of outside involvement.”
The release of the material coincides with the Justice Department announcing it will not pursue additional criminal charges related to the Epstein investigation beyond those already brought against his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence.
Nevertheless, the circumstances of Epstein’s death have long been mired in controversy and allegations of negligence. Reports indicate that on the night he died, required cell checks were not performed, and two correctional officers later admitted to falsifying log entries. A camera meant to monitor the hallway outside his cell was also reportedly not functioning properly.
Epstein had been awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges at the time of his death. In the weeks prior, he was found injured in his cell under circumstances that suggested a prior suicide attempt.
The closure of the investigation leaves unresolved questions for many, particularly regarding the extent of Epstein’s network. While the video release aims to provide transparency, it is unlikely to quell all speculation surrounding one of the most scrutinized deaths in recent memory.
