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Jeffrey Epstein 'hanged himself in jail cell', medical examiner rules

Jeffrey Epstein died after he hanged himself in his jail cell, a New York City medical examiner has ruled.

The disgraced financier was found dead in his cell at Manhattan's Correction Centre on Saturday.

While it was said he had likely died from suicide, the results from his post-mortem carried out the following day had been delayed "pending further information".

Epstein, 66, was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges after being denied bail and faced up to 45 years behind bars.

A sketch of Jeffrey Epstein (AP)
A sketch of Jeffrey Epstein (AP)

He had pleaded not guilty to accusations of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls as young as 14, from at least 2002 to 2005.

Questions were raised around whether his death was possibly from the result of foul play after an expert said one of the bones broken in his neck was more common in murder victims.

Epstein had been taken off suicide watch days before just death and was supposed to have been checked on by a guard every 30 minutes.

But investigators learned those checks were not done for several hours before he was found on Saturday morning, according to a person familiar with the case.

Epstein was found dead at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (REUTERS)
Epstein was found dead at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (REUTERS)

On Monday, Attorney General William Barr said that he was "frankly angry to learn of the MCC's failure to adequately secure this prisoner".

He added: "We will get to the bottom of what happened and there will be accountability."

The Justice Department and the FBI are both running investigations looking into Epstein's death.

Federal prosecutors in New York are pursuing a parallel investigation into whether any associates of Epstein will face charges for assisting him in what authorities say was his rampant sexual abuse of teenage girls.

Mr Barr warned that any co-conspirator in the sex-crimes case against Epstein "should not rest easy", adding: "The victims deserve justice, and they will get it."

As well as the FBI and Justice Department enquiries, another team at the jail on Wednesday began an "after action" review, which is normally triggered by significant events such as a prominent inmate's death, according to a source familiar with the matter.

That review will be headed by a prison bureau director from another region.