Modelling scout linked to Epstein discovered lifeless in Paris

A modelling scout linked to the late convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein has been discovered lifeless at his dwelling.

Daniel Siad, 69, was found on Monday in Colombes, a north-west suburb of Paris, the Nanterre prosecutor’s workplace confirmed.

An investigation to find out the reason for dying was opened on Monday night, the workplace mentioned, including {that a} autopsy examination can be carried out.

Siad’s title appeared 1000’s of occasions within the Epstein information launched by the US authorities. He denied understanding of the menace Epstein had posed.

The Paris prosecutor’s workplace has defended an investigation it launched in February, saying there had been inadequate proof to justify arresting Siad.

“The investigation opened on 18 February 2026 protecting expenses of organised human trafficking and conspiracy to commit a criminal offense is continuous with a purpose to establish all people doubtlessly concerned regardless of the termination of legal proceedings towards Daniel Siad,” the workplace mentioned.

“Daniel Siad was topic to particular investigative strategies, notably phone surveillance, however they didn’t present sufficient proof justifying his rapid arrest,” it added.

Siad had been the topic of a number of complaints in France together with allegations of rape.

The lifeless man’s lawyer confused that Siad had “by no means been prosecuted”. “He’s lifeless and he was harmless,” Ménya Arab-Tigrine mentioned in a press release.

Epstein sufferer Anya – not her actual title – beforehand informed the BBC that Siad had launched her to Epstein.

“It was a whole set-up,” she mentioned, describing Siad as “basically an expert trafficker”.

Throughout one e-mail to Epstein launched within the information, Siad wrote in badly spelled English: “In This busyness I really feel like fisherman a while I cache fast, a while no fish.”

Forward of a BBC investigation on the topic revealed on Saturday, Arab-Tigrine had mentioned her shopper was not out there for remark.

Nevertheless, in a current CNN interview, Siad mentioned he had not identified the ladies had been being abused by Epstein. “I trusted him, I believed this man is an expert particular person,” he mentioned.

The primary complaints towards Siad in France had been filed in February. He denied wrongdoing in a number of current media interviews, telling BFMTV in Could: “I’ve by no means raped anybody in my life.”

Attorneys for the previous mannequin who made the primary criticism mentioned earlier that they had been “surprised” by his dying.

“We’re puzzled to explain the anger and disappointment we really feel,” they mentioned, with alleged victims “denied a legal trial”.

The legal professionals mentioned they felt “immense anger” towards the Paris prosecutor’s workplace “which introduced final February that it was opening an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s French accomplices”.

They accused the workplace of “scandalous” inaction which they mentioned demonstrated “the general public authorities’ contempt for victims of sexual crimes, even when these crimes are linked to the human trafficking community established by Epstein and his accomplices”.

One other former mannequin who gave a deposition to police in June as a part of the investigation into Siad informed the BBC his dying meant any data he might need had about Epstein was now misplaced.

“An necessary hyperlink within the chain has simply vanished into skinny air, with out there even having been an opportunity to recuperate the knowledge Daniel Siad might need possessed, on condition that he was by no means questioned,” she mentioned.

“An excessive amount of time has been misplaced… and it’s yet one more means for the results in go chilly. I hope we can’t have to attend one other seven years to see his dwelling searched, though I feel it’s already too late.”

Anne-Claire Le Jeune, who represents six girls who made complaints about Siad, mentioned victims had been disadvantaged of justice: “My purchasers discovered the power to interrupt a very heavy silence, given Daniel Siad’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein

“They confronted each stage of the proceedings with exceptional braveness.

“It’s deeply regrettable that the gradual tempo of the investigation resulted in his dying earlier than he could possibly be questioned or taken into police custody, thereby depriving the victims of an important step of their pursuit of reality and justice.”

One other affiliate of Epstein, French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, was discovered hanged in his Paris jail cell in 2022.

The 76-year-old had been held in custody for greater than a 12 months as he was investigated on suspicion of the rape of minors and trafficking of minors for sexual exploitation. Brunel denied any wrongdoing.

Brunel based MC2 Mannequin Administration with funding from Epstein and was suspected of transporting and housing women or younger girls for Epstein.

Epstein, 66, died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 as he awaited a federal trial for intercourse trafficking.