Warning, graphic images: Epstein autopsy, jail cell photos raise more questions about suicide
New photos from Jeffrey Epstein's autopsy and his jail cell show his neck injuries and bedsheet nooses and electrical cords in his jail cell; Bryan Llenas reports.
Graphic images showing injuries to Jeffrey Epstein’s neck after he allegedly hanged himself inside his New York City jail cell have surfaced this week, as suspicions linger surrounding how the disgraced billionaire died.
The photos, which include images of nooses Epstein is said to have made out of bedsheets at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan last August, depict a messy and chaotic scene inside the cell where the convicted pedophile lived the last moments of his life. Sheets are seen strewn across the floor while parts of fabric can be seen tied to a bedpost and window grate.
Other images taken by a medical examiner show Epstein’s body lying on a gurney. In one, his lifeless hand is held up for measurement.
Jeffrey Epstein is ruled to have died from suicide by hanging on Aug. 10 in New York City.
Separate images show a note found in Epstein’s cell that mentions being kept "in a locked shower stall for one hour.”
"Giant bugs crawling over my hands. NO FUN!!" the note says.
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Dr. Baden challenges Epstein autopsy results, says neck fractures not consistent with suicidal hanging
Warning, graphic images: Forensic pathologist hired by the Epstein family Dr. Michael Baden tells 'America's Newsroom' that the autopsy performed on Jeffrey Epstein and the bedsheet nooses found in his jail cell call into question a death by suicide.
Law enforcement sources told the New York Post that investigators believe Epstein tied a prison sheet around his neck before fastening the other end to a bedpost and kneeling forward, hanging himself. New York City's medical examiner ruled shortly after Epstein's death that the cause was suicide by hanging.
Forensic pathologist and former NYC Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Baden said on “America’s Newsroom” Monday that the images reaffirm his belief that the “findings are more indicative of homicide” than a suicide.
The scene inside Epstein's jail cell following his death.
“I think there's a lot of information that still hasn't been revealed yet that is essential in order to arrive at a conclusion, whether this is a suicide or homicide,” Baden, the pathologist hired by Epstein's brother to investigate his death, said on Monday.
“I think the closing out of the case as a suicide so quickly was premature.”
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Baden referenced a photograph of the ligature mark around Epstein’s neck, saying it “doesn't match the ligature that was found at the scene and that the medical examiner copied to show how he was hanged.”
He added that “it was too wide and too smooth. This is a rougher injury.”
Investigators have not confirmed where in the cell Epstein’s body was located and no photo has been released of the cell with him in it.
Bureau of Prison officials also haven’t shared whether signs of life protocol were followed before a decision was made to transport Epstein’s body, which Baden estimates had already been dead for two hours, affecting evidence collection.
“The important thing is to find out what was seen when the guards first went into the cell. Was he hanging? Was he on the ground as some people reported when he was found?” Baden asked during "America's Newsroom".
“The removal of the body destroyed a lot of the forensic evidence," he added.
FBI investigators probing Epstein’s death also have been looking into whether a "criminal enterprise" may have played a role, the Bureau of Prisons’ director revealed in November during testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“With a case this high-profile, there has got to be either a major malfunction of the system or criminal enterprise at foot to allow this to happen. So are you looking at both? Is the FBI looking at both?” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., had asked Kathleen Hawk Sawyer.
A noose made out of a prison sheet that was found inside Epstein's cell.
“The FBI is involved and they are looking at criminal enterprise, yes,” Sawyer responded.
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The NYC Medical Examiner’s Office has stood by its ruling.
Sheets are seen strewn across the floor inside Epstein's cell.
“The original medical investigation was thorough and complete,” Dr. Barbara Sampson, the chief medical examiner, told Fox News in a statement in October. “There is no reason for a second medical investigation by our office.”
The photos were first published by CBS News.
Fox News’ Bryan Llenas, Kathleen Reuschle and Melissa Leon contributed to this report.
