Millionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who was facing federal sex-trafficking charges, was reportedly found dead in his cell from an apparent suicide Saturday morning, according to ABC News.
The exact timing and circumstances were not immediately clear.
Epstein, 66, was set to stand trial next year for allegedly sexually abusing dozens of minor girls in New York and Florida.
His death came less than three weeks after he was found unresponsive in his cell at Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan, with marks on his neck that appeared to be self-inflicted, sources told ABC News.
He had been on suicide watch since the July 23 incident.
Epstein, 66, pleaded not guilty to the charges. He faced up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
This story is still developing. More updates will follow.
UPDATE: The New York Post has some more details.
A gurney carrying a man who looked like Epstein was wheeled out of the Manhattan Correctional Center around 7:30 a.m. and headed to New York Downtown Hospital. A call for a reported cardiac arrest came in at 6:38 a.m., Fire Department sources said.
One of Epstein’s alleged “sex slaves” had just revealed on Friday a list of men she claims she was forced to have sex with.
UPDATE: ABC News Special Report:
@ABC News Special Report: Jeffrey Epstein has committed suicide in his Lower Manhattan jail cell, sources say. https://t.co/YzkYAbsEMd pic.twitter.com/c8M2MyG7qE
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) August 10, 2019
UPDATE: How did Epstein commit suicide while on suicide watch?
Officials at the Metropolitan Correctional Center did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the reported suicide
It was not immediately clear how Epstein could have killed himself if he was under suicide watch after being found unconscious three week ago in his cell in Metropolitan Correctional Center. He had suffered injuries to his neck in what appeared to be a suicide attempt or jailhouse assault.
There are going to be a lot of questions on this point.
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