Court Unseals Epstein Suicide Note Found by Former Cellmate, Raising Fresh Questions

A New York federal judge has unsealed a handwritten note purportedly penned by Jeffrey Epstein during his unsuccessful suicide attempt less than two weeks before his death in August 2019. The note was discovered by Epstein's former jail cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, who is serving a life sentence for murder.

The note remained hidden in a courthouse vault for nearly five years, sealed as part of an unrelated legal case involving Tartaglione. US District Judge Kenneth Karas ordered its release after The New York Times petitioned for public access, citing the diminished privacy rights of a deceased individual and the public interest in transparency.

Written on lined paper, the note is difficult to decipher in places and does not bear Epstein’s signature or name. It expresses a bleak resignation and frustration, with lines like “It is a treat to be able to choose the time to say goodbye,” and ends with an underlined “NO FUN, NOT WORTH IT!!” Tartaglione claims he found the note tucked inside a book in his cell shortly after Epstein’s July 23 suicide attempt.

Federal investigators reportedly never saw this note, and it was absent from the millions of Epstein-related documents released by the Justice Department. At the time of Epstein’s death on August 10, 2019, officials found a different handwritten note in his cell that detailed grievances about jail conditions rather than any indication of suicidal intent.

Epstein’s death was officially ruled a suicide, but the circumstances remain deeply controversial. Multiple failures by jail staff—including neglecting to check on him and engaging in personal internet use—have fueled suspicion and conspiracy theories about whether Epstein’s death was truly self-inflicted.

The release of this note adds another unsettling piece to the puzzle of Epstein’s final days, underscoring the ongoing need for scrutiny and accountability in how his incarceration was managed. For a man facing serious sex trafficking charges and linked to powerful enablers, every detail matters in the pursuit of justice and truth.

Readers affected by the content are encouraged to seek support from mental health resources.