Epstein’s death ‘likely strangulation, not suicide’, says pathologist; calls for new probe

A high-profile pathologist who observed the postmortem examination of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has called for a renewed investigation into the financier’s death, challenging the official conclusion of suicide. Epstein, who was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019, was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell. The New York Medical Examiner’s office ruled his death as suicide by hanging, but Dr Michael Baden, hired by Epstein’s family, says the evidence points toward strangulation.

Dr Baden told The Telegraph, “My opinion is that his death was most likely caused by strangulation pressure rather than hanging.” He noted that although he did not perform the autopsy, he observed the examination on August 11, 2019, and found the findings inconclusive. The initial postmortem report left the “manner of death” as pending and marked both suicide and homicide boxes blank, he said.

Dr Baden claims that five days after the death certificate was issued, Dr Barbara Sampson, New York’s then-chief medical examiner, ruled Epstein’s death a suicide despite not being present at the postmortem examination. “The diagnosis was made a number of days after the first cause of death was given,” he said, adding that no further investigation had been conducted.

The pathologist highlights that Epstein’s official autopsy reported three neck fractures, including the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage. “Even one fracture warrants investigation into homicide. Two definitely warrant a full investigation. Findings in textbooks never see those fractures, and neither have I,” Dr Baden said. He argues that the injuries are more consistent with homicidal strangulation than suicide.

Dr Sampson, however, maintains that such fractures can occur in both suicides and homicides. Newly released government files and CCTV footage from the night of Epstein’s death have fuelled further speculation. Controversies include a missing minute of footage and an unexplained “orange flash” on the prison stairs.

Dr Baden, 91, has previously worked on several high-profile cases, including investigations into the deaths of OJ Simpson’s victims, Martin Luther King Jr, John F Kennedy, and George Floyd. In each instance, his independent findings sometimes conflicted with official conclusions.

Despite official statements from FBI and Department of Justice affirming Epstein’s suicide, Dr Baden said, “Given all the information now available, further investigation into the cause and manner of death is warranted.”