The body of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been claimed from the medical examiner’s office, according to NBC News.
Citing an unnamed source close to the investigation, the news outlet described the person who claimed Epstein’s body only as an “Epstein associate.”
The report, published on Aug. 15, said the source provided the information on Aug. 14, but did not specify when the body of the multi-millionaire financier was claimed.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported late on Aug. 14 that the autopsy had found that Epstein’s neck was broken in several places.
Citing several unidentified sources familiar with the unpublished autopsy results, the newspaper said such injuries can occur to people who hang themselves or who are strangled.
According to Reuters, it is currently unclear when the autopsy report will be finished or made public.
Epstein, who was awaiting trial for sex trafficking, was found dead in his prison cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan, New York, on Aug. 10.
No cause of death has officially been revealed for Epstein, who, according to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman, was found dead in his cell after what was officially called an “apparent suicide.”
Various news outlets claim to have spoken to unnamed sources who said he was found hanging from his neck.
Epstein was taken off suicide watch at the end of July, according to The Associated Press, just a week after he was found in his cell with neck injuries. It is still not clear whether he had attempted suicide or he was attacked.
Epstein was meeting with his lawyers for as many as 12 hours per day before they requested that he be taken off suicide watch, WSJ reported, citing sources close to the matter.
Attorney General William Barr said on Aug. 12 that the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General is investigating the death of Epstein.
“I was appalled, and indeed the whole department was, and frankly angry to learn of the MCC’s failure to adequately secure this prisoner,” he said in a statement. “We are now learning of serious irregularities at this facility that are deeply concerning and demand a thorough investigation,” he added.
“We’ll get to the bottom of what happened and there will be accountability.”
“Let me assure you that this case will continue on against anyone who was complicit with Epstein,” Barr said. “Any co-conspirators should not rest easy. The victims deserve justice and they will get it.”
At the time of his death, Epstein was being held without bail and faced up to 45 years in prison on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges unsealed in July. According to court documents, Epstein sexually exploited and abused dozens of underage girls at his homes in New York City and in Palm Beach, Florida, among other locations.
A day before Epstein’s apparent suicide, a federal appeals court released almost 2,000 pages of documents relating to Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. The records named powerful men who were allegedly involved in Epstein’s trafficking ring.
Questions about Epstein’s connections to the rich and powerful, including former President Bill Clinton—and the apparent mysterious source of Epstein’s wealth—had been circulating for some time.
According to flight logs, Clinton flew on Epstein’s personal jet at least 26 times.
The documents released on Friday related to a now-settled lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell by Virginia Giuffre.
Giuffre claimed she was “forced” to have sex with many powerful men in Epstein’s circle, “including numerous prominent American politicians, powerful business executives, foreign presidents, a well-known prime minister, and other world leaders,” according to court documents (pdf).
Epstein owned an island in the U.S. Virgin Islands known as Little St. James, dubbed by locals “Pedophile Island.”
