Judge releases possible Epstein suicide note allegedly discovered before he was found semiconscious in 2019

A purported suicide note from Jeffrey Epstein obtained by his former jail cellmate was unsealed Wednesday by a federal judge.

The letter, which is handwritten on lined paper and has not been authenticated, dates to what was believed to be Epstein’s unsuccessful suicide attempt on July 23, 2019, less than two weeks before he died.

Epstein was found “with an orange cloth around his neck” and “friction marks” on his neck, according to a report from the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Epstein’s cellmate told officers Epstein tried to hang himself.

The note is handwritten and reads, “They investigated me for month — Found NOTHING!!!”

The writing is difficult to read but appears to say, “So 16 year old charges resubmitted.” Then it reads, “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye. Watcha want me to do – Bust out cryin!! NO FUN, NOT WORTH IT!!”

What is believed to have been Jeffrey Epstein’s first suicide attempt in July of 2019 — A possible note from what is believed to have been Jeffrey Epstein’s first suicide attempt in July of 2019 when he was found semiconscious with marks on his neck.U.S. District Judge Southern District of NY

Epstein was discovered by his cellmate, a former New York City police officer named Nicholas Tartaglione. Immediately after the incident, Epstein said he was attacked by Tartaglione but later told investigators he did not know what occurred and did not want to talk about how he had sustained injuries, according to a report from the Department of Justice’s office of inspector general.

Previously, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice provided a statement about the alleged note after reporting about its existence, “It is difficult to comment on something neither The New York Times, nor we, have seen. The Department underwent an exhaustive effort to collect all records in its possession responsive to the Act. This included collecting records from the Bureau of Prisons and Office of Inspector General. As a result of these efforts, nearly 3 million pages have been produced.”

Epstein, 66, was arrested in July 2019 on multiple sex-trafficking charges from alleged incidents spanning from 2002 to 2005 related to the sexual abuse of girls as young as 14.

Despite being placed under suicide watch after he was found semiconscious in his cell that same month, he denied being suicidal.

He was found dead by suicide in his jail cell that August — the result of what federal investigators concluded in 2023 was a cascade of misconduct, negligence and errors by staff at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.