Seems like there is a third possibility : Epstein was convinced to kill himself (through threats/coersion) and then was given an opportunity through engineered ineptness.
While I have no experience in prison, there is a well known Behavior in that everyone inside knows to conform to as a “Code of Silence”. No snitching or ratting out anyone to the authorities or each other.
I can’t imagine a person in an adjacent cell that knows something would say anything when knowing if they could kill Epstein, they could also get a small time snitch.
On another note, there is a new line of camouflage clothing coming on the market. Far superior than the old fashion mottled leaf patterns of green and brown, this clothing is called “The Epstein List.” It doesn’t make you blend into the surrounding environment but rather it makes you invisible to the point no one knows you even exist. Bow Hunters across America are clamoring to get their hands on it.
As a physician, the laryngeal fractures and the narrow skin bruises, which to me indicate a thin ligature not a sheet, are suspicious enough further investigation would be warranted.
The “Mission Impossible” scenario is an appropriate explanation of how it could have rolled out. Pretty clear it was suicide but anyone with the tiniest conspiratorial bone in his/her body will be susceptible to believe that’s what’s at work here. Good work Michael.
I completed a B of S degree in criminology and criminal justice and took several classes on forensic science and practice. If you read the first in this story, with the genuine photos of his neck, he did not die by hanging. He was strangled with a ligature, the bruising on the back of the neck and the TWO imprints on the front of the neck point to intentional strangulation with a ligature. Of course he was murdered. Of course he was.
I did read them, Theresa, and they make it clear that—forensically—the ligature marks are more similar to strangulation than hanging but that it is possible they could also indicate he hanged himself.
I've seen a photo of the right side of his neck (assuming the photo wasn't reversed in publication). As a medical man with many years behind me, I think the fine bruise markings around the neck are more in keeping with a wire or thin rope ligature than a rolled up (or torn) sheet used in hanging.
The horizontal bruising doesn't extend all the way around the neck, and this is used to justify support the hanging theory. However, it is entirely consistent with the application of a ligature from the front with the victim lying down on his bed/mattress, and the assailant/s standing over him or sitting on his torso to pin him down.
On the left side of the neck there is also a bruise line starting from the main bruise line and extending backwards by about an inch or so and at an acute angle of approx 30 degrees to the main line. This would be consistent with a ligature being applied, then with perhaps a struggle at some point, the ligature shifting position a little around the side where it isn't so firmly pressed into the skin.
I have yet to find autopsy photos of the front, left and back of the neck which might help to clarify things further.
A thorough and forensic autopsy would be expected to look for foreign (eg sheet fibres) material in the skin of the neck, especially in the bruised areas. I've not seen any information about this, however.
If anyone knows if the full autopsy report is accessible for download somewhere, I'd be most interested in reading it.
Great point — I looked into this some more. Indeed, the absence of lividity in Epstein’s lower extremities has been raised by multiple observers, including Dr. Michael Baden. In a typical hanging death, especially one involving partial suspension like Epstein’s (kneeling or leaning), you’d expect postmortem lividity — that is, the gravitational pooling of blood — to settle in the legs and feet, since those would be the lowest points.
Instead, reports and photos indicate that lividity was more pronounced in the back — which is unusual for someone who supposedly died upright. This has led some to argue that he may have died lying down, and was only positioned in the kneeling pose later — which would be consistent with a staged suicide scene.
It’s not definitive on its own, but when paired with the ligature mark, the hyoid fracture, the camera failures, and everything else — it adds another layer to the forensic ambiguity that hasn’t been adequately resolved.
Thanks for flagging it — I’ll consider including this in the next update.
Excellent analysis. I would add: at all times relevant herein the facility and its employees reported to Bill Barr, Trump's AG, a known fixer who never tried a case. Indeed, Barr at one point VISITED Epstein, which is both highly unusual, verging on unethical. What did they discuss? Add to that Epstein was hired by Barr's father to teach at the prep school he ran. Epsteinwas accused of improper contact with girls at the school. The stench is palpable.
Thank you for your thoughtful analysis of the ligature, the circumstances, the appreciation of Tucker Carlson’s careful discussion, and finally a very critical point that no-one else on the media takes into account: Point 1. the distance from the top bunk to the bottom is not very far and Epstein weighed probably no more than 140 to 150 pounds! There just is a very short drop from the top bunk to the floor to kill one’s self by hanging AND as you noted, a very expert doctor was the only expert who performed the necessary medical evaluation very soon after his death was discovered the next morning! Point 2: That expert physician opined that the ligature didn’t support death by hanging BUT a higher up physician overrode his analysis to rule that Epstein did commit suicide ALTHOUGH THAT DOCTOR DID NOT EVEN VIEW EPSTEIN’S DEAD BODY!! What do you make of that?
There you have the beginning of a real murder mystery, don’t you! Michael, we look forward to your next analysis and I urge you to watch the entire discussion by Tucker Carlson and Epstein’s younger brother! Thanks; Not one of the tv pundits has mentioned one word of our critically analysis above!
If Epstein were unconscious when strangled and a towel or folded sheet placed across the back of the neck, would that cause the observed ligature marks?
No. There is no way a towel could cause the bruising on the back of the neck. If you look closely the marks are thin and appear linear, which points to a cord, likely a plastic cord, perhaps even an electrical cord of some kind.
+1 for ineptness is that if I were a corrupt guard and had agreed with scary people to skip checks and stay away, I’d have been too stressed to fall asleep.
My understanding is that:1) the medical doctor who personally examined the body first recommended that he did not commit suicide because of the ligature but was overruled later by a superior doctor who had not personally seen the ligature; 2) Epstein himself reportedly told other prisoners a day or two earlier that he had no intention to commit suicide in order to refute a rumor that he would do so; 3) this is really important: have you reviewed an extraordinary video created by Tucker Carlson and Epstein’s younger brother (intentionally off camera)?It is remarkably analytical and very persuasive that he was murdered?
Thanks for this thoughtful comment. You’re absolutely right on several key points:
Dr. Michael Baden, one of the most experienced forensic pathologists in the country, was hired by Epstein’s brother and was present at the autopsy. He did publicly state that the neck injuries — especially the hyoid bone fracture — were more consistent with manual strangulation than hanging. He was later overruled by the NYC Medical Examiner’s office, which ruled the death a suicide, even though (as you noted) that conclusion came from someone who hadn’t physically examined the body in the same way Baden had.
I’ve also seen reporting that Epstein told fellow inmates he wasn’t suicidal, specifically trying to “get ahead of” rumors that he might try to take his own life. That sort of statement doesn’t prove anything, but it does make the official narrative harder to swallow at face value.
I have seen portions of the Tucker Carlson/Mark Epstein video, and you’re right — it’s more analytical and restrained than many would expect. I’ll be referencing some of its arguments in upcoming installments, including the question of broken neck bones, the physics of the bedsheet, and whether a man of Epstein’s age and condition could have generated the required force in a kneeling position.
Thanks again — the more careful eyes on this, the better.
I know you make it sound like it’s impossible, but there are a number of items that I don’t know we can say that everything is due to ineptness - such as his soulmate being moved the day before - two out of three cameras being down and nobody thinking anything about that - Leaving one camera whose record was disassembled and reassembled deliberately - if the guards were under surveillance every night can we say that This was routine- or did it only happen that night one night?
I still believe that with some insider help that someone could have gotten into his cell and killed him - he was such a liability to so many !
Well I was careful not to say impossible. It’s possible but without more evidence it seems likely the more probable explanation is ineptitude. But new evidence could change that. But I’d o had to bet $5k one way or another I would have to place my bet on ineptitude.
Hi Michael. There are many many goverment entities across the world who have so-called elite task forces arranged to do "dirty work " (hit squads?) . Perhaps the truth will never be known if this was an arranged "hit". Is there a tape with the picture of the person who supposedly "fixed" the third video camera? Perhaps it could be a lead.
Seems like there is a third possibility : Epstein was convinced to kill himself (through threats/coersion) and then was given an opportunity through engineered ineptness.
While I have no experience in prison, there is a well known Behavior in that everyone inside knows to conform to as a “Code of Silence”. No snitching or ratting out anyone to the authorities or each other.
I can’t imagine a person in an adjacent cell that knows something would say anything when knowing if they could kill Epstein, they could also get a small time snitch.
On another note, there is a new line of camouflage clothing coming on the market. Far superior than the old fashion mottled leaf patterns of green and brown, this clothing is called “The Epstein List.” It doesn’t make you blend into the surrounding environment but rather it makes you invisible to the point no one knows you even exist. Bow Hunters across America are clamoring to get their hands on it.
Hi Michael, while you’re at it. Could you also look into the death of Thomas Bowers, the Deutsche Bank executive who hanged himself in Nov. 2019 and who was in charge of the loans for Trump and Epstein. There seem to be quite a few strange suicides of executives tied to Deutsche Bank. https://whowhatwhy.org/politics/government-integrity/another-banker-suicide-intriguing-parallels-between-us-and-estonian-deaths/
Not to mention tied to TrumPox.
As a physician, the laryngeal fractures and the narrow skin bruises, which to me indicate a thin ligature not a sheet, are suspicious enough further investigation would be warranted.
The “Mission Impossible” scenario is an appropriate explanation of how it could have rolled out. Pretty clear it was suicide but anyone with the tiniest conspiratorial bone in his/her body will be susceptible to believe that’s what’s at work here. Good work Michael.
I completed a B of S degree in criminology and criminal justice and took several classes on forensic science and practice. If you read the first in this story, with the genuine photos of his neck, he did not die by hanging. He was strangled with a ligature, the bruising on the back of the neck and the TWO imprints on the front of the neck point to intentional strangulation with a ligature. Of course he was murdered. Of course he was.
I did read them, Theresa, and they make it clear that—forensically—the ligature marks are more similar to strangulation than hanging but that it is possible they could also indicate he hanged himself.
I tend to agree.
I've seen a photo of the right side of his neck (assuming the photo wasn't reversed in publication). As a medical man with many years behind me, I think the fine bruise markings around the neck are more in keeping with a wire or thin rope ligature than a rolled up (or torn) sheet used in hanging.
The horizontal bruising doesn't extend all the way around the neck, and this is used to justify support the hanging theory. However, it is entirely consistent with the application of a ligature from the front with the victim lying down on his bed/mattress, and the assailant/s standing over him or sitting on his torso to pin him down.
On the left side of the neck there is also a bruise line starting from the main bruise line and extending backwards by about an inch or so and at an acute angle of approx 30 degrees to the main line. This would be consistent with a ligature being applied, then with perhaps a struggle at some point, the ligature shifting position a little around the side where it isn't so firmly pressed into the skin.
I have yet to find autopsy photos of the front, left and back of the neck which might help to clarify things further.
A thorough and forensic autopsy would be expected to look for foreign (eg sheet fibres) material in the skin of the neck, especially in the bruised areas. I've not seen any information about this, however.
If anyone knows if the full autopsy report is accessible for download somewhere, I'd be most interested in reading it.
Still no mention of the lack of lividity in his legs
Great point — I looked into this some more. Indeed, the absence of lividity in Epstein’s lower extremities has been raised by multiple observers, including Dr. Michael Baden. In a typical hanging death, especially one involving partial suspension like Epstein’s (kneeling or leaning), you’d expect postmortem lividity — that is, the gravitational pooling of blood — to settle in the legs and feet, since those would be the lowest points.
Instead, reports and photos indicate that lividity was more pronounced in the back — which is unusual for someone who supposedly died upright. This has led some to argue that he may have died lying down, and was only positioned in the kneeling pose later — which would be consistent with a staged suicide scene.
It’s not definitive on its own, but when paired with the ligature mark, the hyoid fracture, the camera failures, and everything else — it adds another layer to the forensic ambiguity that hasn’t been adequately resolved.
Thanks for flagging it — I’ll consider including this in the next update.
Has anyone checked to see if any of the staff had a close female relative that had been raped?
Excellent analysis. I would add: at all times relevant herein the facility and its employees reported to Bill Barr, Trump's AG, a known fixer who never tried a case. Indeed, Barr at one point VISITED Epstein, which is both highly unusual, verging on unethical. What did they discuss? Add to that Epstein was hired by Barr's father to teach at the prep school he ran. Epsteinwas accused of improper contact with girls at the school. The stench is palpable.
Thank you for all your excellent reporting. Is there any chance that you could investigate the claims that Epstein was a spy?
Thank you for your thoughtful analysis of the ligature, the circumstances, the appreciation of Tucker Carlson’s careful discussion, and finally a very critical point that no-one else on the media takes into account: Point 1. the distance from the top bunk to the bottom is not very far and Epstein weighed probably no more than 140 to 150 pounds! There just is a very short drop from the top bunk to the floor to kill one’s self by hanging AND as you noted, a very expert doctor was the only expert who performed the necessary medical evaluation very soon after his death was discovered the next morning! Point 2: That expert physician opined that the ligature didn’t support death by hanging BUT a higher up physician overrode his analysis to rule that Epstein did commit suicide ALTHOUGH THAT DOCTOR DID NOT EVEN VIEW EPSTEIN’S DEAD BODY!! What do you make of that?
There you have the beginning of a real murder mystery, don’t you! Michael, we look forward to your next analysis and I urge you to watch the entire discussion by Tucker Carlson and Epstein’s younger brother! Thanks; Not one of the tv pundits has mentioned one word of our critically analysis above!
Were guards blood tested or is such inactivity by guards during suicide watch so common it wasn’t considered that they could have been drugged?
Inactivity on the job is rampant in many areas of city, county, state and
federal government. Unfortunately it also applies to congress now.
If Epstein were unconscious when strangled and a towel or folded sheet placed across the back of the neck, would that cause the observed ligature marks?
No. There is no way a towel could cause the bruising on the back of the neck. If you look closely the marks are thin and appear linear, which points to a cord, likely a plastic cord, perhaps even an electrical cord of some kind.
+1 for ineptness is that if I were a corrupt guard and had agreed with scary people to skip checks and stay away, I’d have been too stressed to fall asleep.
My understanding is that:1) the medical doctor who personally examined the body first recommended that he did not commit suicide because of the ligature but was overruled later by a superior doctor who had not personally seen the ligature; 2) Epstein himself reportedly told other prisoners a day or two earlier that he had no intention to commit suicide in order to refute a rumor that he would do so; 3) this is really important: have you reviewed an extraordinary video created by Tucker Carlson and Epstein’s younger brother (intentionally off camera)?It is remarkably analytical and very persuasive that he was murdered?
Thanks for this thoughtful comment. You’re absolutely right on several key points:
Dr. Michael Baden, one of the most experienced forensic pathologists in the country, was hired by Epstein’s brother and was present at the autopsy. He did publicly state that the neck injuries — especially the hyoid bone fracture — were more consistent with manual strangulation than hanging. He was later overruled by the NYC Medical Examiner’s office, which ruled the death a suicide, even though (as you noted) that conclusion came from someone who hadn’t physically examined the body in the same way Baden had.
I’ve also seen reporting that Epstein told fellow inmates he wasn’t suicidal, specifically trying to “get ahead of” rumors that he might try to take his own life. That sort of statement doesn’t prove anything, but it does make the official narrative harder to swallow at face value.
I have seen portions of the Tucker Carlson/Mark Epstein video, and you’re right — it’s more analytical and restrained than many would expect. I’ll be referencing some of its arguments in upcoming installments, including the question of broken neck bones, the physics of the bedsheet, and whether a man of Epstein’s age and condition could have generated the required force in a kneeling position.
Thanks again — the more careful eyes on this, the better.
Michael,
I know you make it sound like it’s impossible, but there are a number of items that I don’t know we can say that everything is due to ineptness - such as his soulmate being moved the day before - two out of three cameras being down and nobody thinking anything about that - Leaving one camera whose record was disassembled and reassembled deliberately - if the guards were under surveillance every night can we say that This was routine- or did it only happen that night one night?
I still believe that with some insider help that someone could have gotten into his cell and killed him - he was such a liability to so many !
Well I was careful not to say impossible. It’s possible but without more evidence it seems likely the more probable explanation is ineptitude. But new evidence could change that. But I’d o had to bet $5k one way or another I would have to place my bet on ineptitude.
Hi Michael. There are many many goverment entities across the world who have so-called elite task forces arranged to do "dirty work " (hit squads?) . Perhaps the truth will never be known if this was an arranged "hit". Is there a tape with the picture of the person who supposedly "fixed" the third video camera? Perhaps it could be a lead.
Depose Ghislaine Maxwell with regard to the client list.