In brief
A modelling scout who supplied men to work for former convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home in the Paris suburb of Colombes. Daniel Siad, 69, was discovered by authorities on Monday, and a further inquiry to determine the cause of his death has been launched, with an autopsy pending. Siad’s name appeared thousands of times in the now‑released US government dossier on Epstein, and he had been accused of rape and trafficking in France. The circumstances of his death come as victims who have suffered abuse by Epstein’s associates mourn the loss of a possible source of evidence. The case underscores ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s network and the challenge of uncovering truth when key witnesses vanish.
A modelling scout linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home.
Daniel Siad, 69, was discovered on Monday in Colombes, a north‑west suburb of Paris, the Nanterre prosecutor’s office confirmed to the BBC.
An investigation to determine the cause of death was opened on Monday evening following the discovery, and an autopsy will be carried out.
Siad’s name appeared thousands of times in the US government copies of Epstein’s files. He had previously denied any knowledge that Epstein posed a threat.
Victims, such as an anonymous former model named “Anya”, have said Siad introduced them to Epstein and described him as a “professional trafficker.”
One email from Eiag revealed Siad wrote in badly‑spelled English: “In This busyness I feel like fisherman some time I cache quick, some time no fish”.
Siad’s lawyer had been unable to comment prior to the BBC’s investigation; however, a later CNN interview revealed Siad claimed he did not know women were being abused, stating, “I trusted him, I believed this guy is a professional person.”
Siad himself was subject to several complaints in France, including allegations of rape with the first filed in February. He denied wrongdoing in multiple media interviews through May.
Lawyers for the first victim of Siad were “stunned” by his death, saying “We are at a loss for words… the sadness for the clients is now denied a criminal trial.” They accused Paris prosecutors of “scandalous” inaction that “demonstrates the public authorities’ contempt for victims of sexual crimes”.
Another former model who had testified in June about Siad’s role told the BBC that his death meant any information he may have had about Epstein was now lost, adding, “An important link in the chain has just vanished into thin air.”
The case joins other revelations such as the 2022 hanged death of French modelling agent Jean‑Luc Brunel, who had been investigated for sexual exploitation and accused of transporting minors for Epstein. Brunel was the founder of MC2 Model Management and had ties to Epstein’s funding.
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting a federal trial for sex trafficking.
