Billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein feared for his life in the days before he was found hanging in his jail cell. Epstein, 66, was found dead in his Lower Manhattan jail cell on Saturday morning. According to MSNBC, people close to Epstein feared an attempt on his life after he was found semi-conscious in his jail cell last month.
Attorney General William Barr has ordered an investigation into Epstein’s death. According to NPR, Barr “was appalled” to learn that Epstein died “from an apparent suicide while in federal custody.”
The news comes days after blockbuster court documents detailed the alleged abused by Epstein and his wealthy friends against teenage girls as young as 14 years old.
Epstein previously attempted suicide in his jail cell on July 25. But people close to him say an attempt was made on his life after he received death threats.
MSNBC reports Epstein told authorities someone tried to kill him last month. He was described as being “in good spirits” in recent days.
According to ABC News, Epstein was placed on suicide watch immediately after the previous suicide attempt. But he was not on suicide watch when he died.
Suicide watch means guards monitor the inmate 24 hours a day. Bed linen, blankets, shoestrings, towels, and anything that can be fashioned into a noose is removed from the cell. The inmate is usually given a paper jumpsuit and a heavy blanket that cannot be used to hang himself.
Photo by New York State Division of Criminal Justice
