France to close probe into death of French modelling scout with links to Epstein: Prosecutors

Victims had expressed hope that Daniel Siad would be brought to justice and disclose more information about Epstein's crimes.(AFP) — French prosecutors will close an investigation into the death earlier this year of a modeling scout with close ties to convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying there was no evidence of foul play.Daniel Siad, 69, was one of several French men under investigation in France over accusations of helping the U.S. financier traffic and abuse women. He was found dead at his home outside Paris in July.Prosecutors handling the investigation in the Paris suburb of Nanterre said in a statement that they found no evidence of criminal offenses surrounding his death.French investigators had been examining allegations against Siad, including rape and human trafficking. Siad, who said he also held Swedish citizenship, had not yet been questioned by investigators but had denied the allegations.Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.An autopsy conducted shortly after Siad’s death showed no signs of violence but revealed “a degraded state of health” and “a prior heart attack, which could pose a risk of sudden death,” the prosecutor’s office said.Further forensic analysis ruled out “a toxic cause of death,” while an examination of tissue samples pointed to a medical condition that could lead to “a cardiac-related death,” the office added.French authorities arrested modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel in 2020 following allegations that he procured women for the U.S. billionaire. He died by suicide in prison in 2022.Siad’s name appeared in more than 1,000 documents released as part of the declassified Epstein files.Victims had expressed hope that Siad would be brought to justice and disclose more information about Epstein’s crimes. After his death, Siad’s lawyers said he had been looking forward to clearing his name in court.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads