.svg)
Daniel Siad, a French modelling scout whose name appeared extensively in documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home in France while he was facing multiple allegations and an ongoing investigation.
The 69-year-old was discovered on Monday at his residence in Colombes, a suburb northwest of Paris. French prosecutors confirmed that an investigation has been launched to establish the cause of death, with a post-mortem examination ordered as part of the inquiry.
Authorities have not indicated that Siad's death is being treated as suspicious, and no official cause of death has yet been released.
Siad had recently come under scrutiny in France after several women accused him of serious sexual offences, including rape. Although complaints had been filed earlier this year, prosecutors had not brought criminal charges against him before his death.
His lawyer, Ménya Arab-Tigrine, maintained that Siad had always denied the allegations and emphasized that he had never been prosecuted. Following news of his death, the lawyer stated that he died without ever being convicted of any offence.
The investigation into the complaints had only recently begun, leaving many unanswered questions.
Siad's links to Jeffrey Epstein attracted international attention after his name appeared thousands of times in documents made public by the U.S. government.
One woman, identified publicly only under a pseudonym to protect her identity, previously alleged that Siad introduced her to Epstein. She claimed the meeting had been deliberately arranged and accused Siad of playing a key role in recruiting young women.
Siad consistently denied knowing that Epstein was abusing women and girls. In a recent television interview, he said he believed Epstein was a legitimate businessman and insisted he had no knowledge of any criminal activity.
Previously released emails between Siad and Epstein also highlighted their communication during the years they were associated.
Lawyers representing several women who filed complaints against Siad said his death has deprived alleged victims of the opportunity to see their claims examined in court.
They criticised what they described as the slow pace of the French investigation, arguing that authorities failed to act quickly enough before Siad died.
One former model who had provided evidence to investigators also expressed concern that Siad's death may have permanently closed off a potential source of information about Epstein's wider network.
According to her, investigators never had the opportunity to formally question Siad, raising fears that potentially significant evidence may now never be recovered.
Siad's death comes several years after another prominent French figure linked to Epstein, modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, was found dead in a Paris prison in 2022 while awaiting trial.
Brunel had denied allegations that he recruited and transported young women for Epstein and was facing investigations involving accusations of sexual offences and human trafficking at the time of his death.
Jeffrey Epstein himself died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was officially ruled a suicide, though his case continues to attract worldwide attention as investigations into his associates have continued in multiple countries.
French authorities have said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Daniel Siad's death remains ongoing, with the results of the post-mortem examination expected to help determine the next steps.
.jpg)
.jpg)