From billionaire to suicide: A timeline of Jeffrey Epstein’s time in jail

The death of Jeffrey Epstein from his arrest to his time in jail are well documented and theorized. There are conspiracy theories in the dozens along with memes and internet sleuths doing what they do best. Jeffrey Epstein committing suicide is believed by a lot of people along with being his accepted cause of death.

And if you’re curious just what happened in the lead up to his death, then here is a quick timeline from Jeffrey Epstein’s arrest, his time in jail, and ending with his death, which we want into detail with before. 

Jeffrey Epstein’s arrest

Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on July 6, 2019 in the Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on sex trafficking charges. He was sent to the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York. On July 8, prosecutors with the Public Corruption Unit of the Southern District of New York charged Epstein with sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for sex. 

Epstein requested to be released on bond, offering to post $100 million USD and house arrest in his New York mansion. On July 18, a judge denied this request, believing that Epstein posed a danger to the public and posed a serious flight risk as he took 20 international flights in 18 months. 

Epstein appealed the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, but, at the time of his death, the appeal was still pending. 

Jeffrey Epstein’s jail time

Epstein’s time in jail seemed average, for the most part, until July 23. Epstein was found semi-conscious in his cell with injuries to his neck. When speaking to his lawyer, Epstein said that he was assaulted by his cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione. Tartaglione, of course, denied these charges. An internal investigation by the prison would later clear him.

In the weeks leading up to his death, Epstein reportedly dropped funds into the accounts of fellow prisoners, trying to buy favor/protection. In a note found near Epstein’s body after his death, he complained about the guards, saying that he was served burnt food and locked into the shower for an hour with his clothes on.

On Aug. 8, Epstein signed his last will and testament in the presence of two lawyers that knew him. 

Jeffrey Epstein’s death

On Aug. 10, guards were distributing breakfast to the inmates at 6:30am. Arriving at Epstein’s jail cell, they found him unresponsive from cardiac arrest. He was reportedly found in a kneeling position with a strip of bed sheet wrapped around his neck. Guards performed CPR on Epstein with inmates reporting hearing them telling Epstein to breathe. Epstein was pronounced dead at 6:39am.

Epstein is believed to have died approx. two hours before the discovery of his body. So this places his death around 4:30am on Aug. 10. There are several major issues with the handling of Epstein’s body, such as the removal from the cell, failure to preserve the scene, and the prison personnel never photographed Epstein’s body as it was found.