Daniel Siad, 69, was found dead at his home in Colombes, near Paris. French prosecutors specialising in human trafficking had been investigating him on allegations that included rape and human trafficking. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death. Siad's lawyer denied wrongdoing and suggested the stress of the probe may have affected his health.
Epstein-Linked Model Recruiter Daniel Siad Found Dead Near Paris; Autopsy Ordered
Image via Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Daniel Siad, a 69-year-old model recruiter whose name appears more than 2,000 times in declassified U.S. Department of Justice files connected to Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead Monday evening at his home in Colombes, a north‑west suburb of Paris, French authorities said.
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French deputy public prosecutor Marie‑Céline Lawrysz of the Nanterre Judicial Court confirmed the discovery to CNN on July 22. An autopsy has been ordered to establish the cause of death as investigators continue to probe the circumstances surrounding his passing.
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Background And Allegations
Siad had been an acquaintance of Epstein for roughly a decade and reportedly remained in contact with him after Epstein's 2008 conviction on sex crimes. French prosecutors specialising in human trafficking had been investigating Siad on allegations that include rape and human trafficking.
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Former Swedish model Ebba Karlsson has accused Siad of raping her in France in 1990, when she was 20, and filed criminal complaints earlier this year alleging rape and human trafficking. Prosecutors allege that, over more than a decade, Siad arranged meetings between Epstein and international models to identify potential victims for sexual exploitation.
Documented Communications
Siad's name appears repeatedly in the declassified DOJ files related to Epstein. Reporting has cited a 2018 email exchange in which Siad said he was looking for a "good looking young assistant." After Siad sent a photo and described the woman as "very polite" and having "potential," Epstein replied that the woman was "too old."
Reactions And Next Steps
Siad's lawyer, Ménya Arab‑Tigrine, issued a statement asserting his innocence and suggesting the stress of the investigation may have contributed to his death: "If he died of a heart attack, the unbearable waiting, the pressure and the anxiety he suffered every day will have had something to do with it."
Siad is the second person from the French modelling world with documented links to Epstein to die suddenly in recent years. Jean‑Luc Brunel, a prominent modelling agent connected to Siad, died by suicide in prison in February 2022 while awaiting trial on charges he denied. Authorities say the autopsy results are expected to provide more information about Siad's cause of death as the investigation continues.
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