Epstein’s Mysterious Suicide Note Surfaces Years Later, Raising More Questions About His Death

Years after Jeffrey Epstein’s death rocked the nation, a cryptic note purportedly penned by the disgraced financier has finally come to light. The note, discovered by Epstein’s former cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione following a suspected suicide attempt on July 23, 2019, was locked away in a courthouse vault until a recent court order forced its release.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas authorized the unsealing after The New York Times petitioned for public access, with federal prosecutors raising no objections. Tartaglione, a former police officer serving a life sentence for a quadruple murder, first revealed the note on a podcast last year but it remained unknown to the public — and to investigators probing Epstein’s death.

The brief, hard-to-decipher note reads in part: “They investigated me for month — found nothing!!!” and “It is a treat to be able to choose the time to say goodbye.” The note ends with the underlined words “NO FUN” and “NOT WORTH IT!!” which hint at Epstein’s conflicted state of mind. The authorship remains unclear, and the note was absent from official Justice Department reports and files released on Epstein.

Epstein was found with a bedsheet around his neck in their shared Manhattan jail cell about three weeks before he died in custody on August 10, 2019. Jail records show he suffered neck irritation from the incident and was briefly placed on suicide watch before being downgraded to psychiatric observation. He denied suicidal intent, citing his Jewish faith and self-described cowardice.

The note was submitted as evidence in Tartaglione’s criminal case but was sealed due to a legal dispute. Both men were interviewed by jail staff days after the incident and claimed no personal animosity toward each other. Epstein insisted he was not threatened by Tartaglione, and Tartaglione described their interactions as minimal.

Epstein’s death has long been mired in controversy, with glaring lapses by jail personnel — including guards who reportedly browsed the internet and fell asleep during their shifts — fueling conspiracy theories about foul play. At the time of Epstein’s death, officials found a separate handwritten note in his cell, but it was reportedly a complaint about jail conditions, not a suicide note.

This newly released note deepens the mystery surrounding Epstein’s final days and underscores the failures of the justice system to protect a high-profile detainee. As questions persist about who truly authored the note and what it signifies, the public’s demand for transparency and accountability remains urgent.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the national suicide and crisis lifeline by calling or texting 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for online chat support.