The death of modelling scout Daniel Siad has brought renewed attention to the long list of people connected to Jeffrey Epstein who have died over the past decade.
Siad, a Swedish-French modelling scout aged 68, was found dead at his home in the suburbs of Paris in late July.
At the time of his death, he was reportedly under investigation for suspected human trafficking.
His death was initially described as a cardiac arrest, but questions were raised after a 28-year-old woman who had been staying at his home said he had shown no obvious signs of illness and had frequently talked about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The Nanterre prosecutor’s office has since opened an investigation and ordered a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
Siad Was Under Investigation Before His Death
Siad had links to Epstein through his work in modelling and had reportedly helped arrange meetings between women and the disgraced financier.
His name appeared thousands of times in documents connected to the Epstein case over a period of roughly ten years.
Records also indicated that Epstein reimbursed Siad for expenses linked to modelling trips during which women were allegedly procured for him.
In one email exchange, Epstein asked about finding “new girls”, while Siad discussed the apparent age of women he was scouting.
Siad had previously denied knowing about Epstein’s criminal activities.
However, one woman who accused Epstein told the BBC that Siad had introduced her to the financier and described him as “essentially a professional trafficker.”
Allegations Had Continued Into 2026
Earlier this year, former Swedish model Ebba Karlsson accused Siad of rape and human trafficking, alleging that he had raped her during the 1990s.
Following his death, Karlsson told Agence France-Presse that she was frustrated by what had happened, saying she believed he had been close to being arrested after efforts to pursue justice.
The investigation into Siad’s death means authorities will now have to establish precisely what happened before determining whether there was anything suspicious about the circumstances.
Epstein’s Own Death Remains a Major Point of Debate
The circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death have continued to fuel speculation.
The financier was awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges when he was found dead in his prison cell in 2019.
Two guards assigned to monitor him reportedly fell asleep, while cameras outside his cell allegedly malfunctioned.
The US Department of Justice concluded in 2023 that prison officials had committed “job performance failures” but maintained that Epstein had died by suicide.
Despite that conclusion, questions surrounding the death have persisted, particularly because of Epstein’s extensive connections to wealthy and influential figures.
Jean-Luc Brunel Died While Facing Serious Allegations
Siad is not the only modelling figure linked to Epstein to die while facing scrutiny.
French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel was found hanged inside his Paris prison cell in 2022 at the age of 76.
He had been detained over allegations involving rape and the trafficking of minors, which he denied.
Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre had previously alleged that she was forced to have sex with Brunel. Following his death, she expressed disappointment that she would not have the opportunity to confront him in a final trial.
Prosecutors had suspected Brunel of using MC2 Model Management, a US modelling agency he co-founded with financial backing from Epstein, to house and transport young women.
Mark Middleton’s Death Also Raised Questions
Another death that has attracted attention was that of Mark Middleton, a former White House aide who had helped facilitate Epstein’s access to the White House during Bill Clinton’s presidency.
Middleton, 59, was found dead at a ranch in Arkansas in 2022.
He had been discovered hanging from a tree with a shotgun wound to his chest, while a shotgun was found nearby.
A coroner ruled the death a suicide and noted Middleton’s history of mental health struggles.
However, people who knew him questioned whether the circumstances matched his character.
Middleton had also previously travelled on Epstein’s private aircraft.
Epstein’s Former Mentor Died Months Later
Businessman Steven Hoffenberg, who was widely described as Epstein’s mentor, also died in 2022.
The pair met in 1987 and became close, travelling together and sharing an extravagant lifestyle.
Their relationship later deteriorated after Hoffenberg accused Epstein of being involved in his investor Ponzi scheme.
Hoffenberg was eventually sentenced to 18 years in prison and fined $1 million.
Epstein was never charged in connection with the scheme, although Hoffenberg later sued him and alleged that he had been the architect of the fraud.
Hoffenberg was found dead at his Connecticut home in August 2022.
His body was reportedly in an advanced state of decomposition, with police estimating that he had been dead for around a week.
A post-mortem examination concluded that he had died from natural causes.
Bill Richardson’s Name Also Appeared in Epstein Records
Former New Mexico governor and US ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson died in 2023 at the age of 75.
Richardson died in his sleep at his summer home in Massachusetts, although no cause of death was announced in the supplied material.
His name had previously appeared in the civil case involving Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Giuffre alleged that Richardson was among the powerful men to whom she had been sexually trafficked by Maxwell and Epstein.
Richardson’s spokesman denied that he knew Giuffre and said the former governor had never seen Epstein with underage or young girls.
Earlier Deaths Also Involved People Close to the Case
The series of deaths stretches back years.
In 2014, Alfredo Rodriguez, Epstein’s former butler, died from cancer at the age of 60.
Rodriguez had previously been caught by the FBI attempting to sell Epstein’s so-called “little black book” for $50,000.
The address book was considered highly significant because it was believed to contain information about Epstein’s contacts and alleged victims.
Court papers said Rodriguez claimed he had taken it as a form of insurance because he feared Epstein could make him disappear.
In 2018, Palm Beach detective Joe Recarey, who had investigated Epstein in the early 2000s, died at 50 after a reported brief illness.
Recarey had previously said he faced political pressure while working on the case and told the Miami Herald that he feared for his life.
He also claimed he had been followed and changed his routes and vehicles because he was worried about the safety of himself and his family.
Other Deaths Added to the Long Timeline
Thomas Bowers, a former Deutsche Bank employee who had worked with Epstein’s financial affairs, died in 2019 at the age of 55.
He was reportedly found hanging at his home in California.
Deutsche Bank had accepted Epstein as a client in 2013 before agreeing in 2020 to pay a $150 million fine to settle charges brought by New York authorities.
The bank admitted it had made a “critical mistake” by continuing to do business with him.
Hollywood producer Steve Bing died in 2020 after falling from his 27th-floor apartment in Los Angeles. He was 55.
Bing had moved within some of the same social circles as Epstein, although reports indicated he was not particularly close to the financier.
He had also struggled with addiction and was reportedly suffering from depression during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Efrain “Stone” Reyes, who had been Epstein’s final cellmate, died after reportedly contracting Covid. Reyes was 51.
Epstein’s Final Cellmate Had Been With Him Shortly Before His Death
Reyes had been imprisoned on drug charges and was transferred away from the facility on August 9, 2019, leaving Epstein alone in his cell one day before Epstein was found dead.
According to Reyes’s lawyer, the two men had developed a positive relationship while sharing the cell.
The lawyer said Reyes had not wanted to be transferred because of the bond he had formed with Epstein and believed his presence had helped stabilise the financier.
The deaths of people associated with Epstein have therefore occurred over more than a decade and for widely differing reported reasons, including illness, suicide and natural causes.
Siad’s death has now added another name to that timeline, while the post-mortem examination is expected to establish the official cause of his death.
