(KGTV) — Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced billionaire financier accused of sex trafficking, died by suicide in his Lower Manhattan jail cell overnight Saturday, ABC News reports.
Epstein, 66, was discovered dead inside a Manhattan Correctional Center jail cell Saturday at about 6:30 a.m., a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons read.
Fire officials said they received a call about 10 minutes later that he was in cardiac arrest and transported him to New York Downtown Hospital, ABC reported.
ABC News cited several law enforcement officials who say Epstein hanged himself.
He had been on suicide watch since July 23 when he was found unresponsive in his cell. Bruises were found on his neck but at the time it was unclear if they were self-inflicted or from an assault, ABC News reported.
Epstein was set to stand trial on federal charges for allegedly sexually abusing dozens of minor females at his properties in New York and Florida. Some of those charges date back to the early 2000s.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and faced up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
Epstein's arrest in July sparked investigations into how authorities handled with his case when he faced similar charges in Florida more than a decade ago. The backlash forced U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, who oversaw the case as a U.S. Attorney in Miami at the time, to resign.
