Epstein’s Suicide Note Matches Writing Found After Death, Cellmate’s Lawyer Reveals

Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail cell has long been shrouded in mystery, and new details about a suicide note found just weeks before his death only add fuel to the fire. Bruce Barket, attorney for Epstein’s former cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione, disclosed that the note discovered in Tartaglione’s book shares the same handwriting and language as another note found after Epstein’s death.

The note, scribbled on yellow paper, contains disjointed phrases like “They investigated me for a month — FOUND NOTHING!!!” and “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye.” These phrases echo a second note found in Epstein’s cell after his death, which includes references to mistreatment such as being locked in a shower stall and “Giant bugs crawling over my hands,” ending with the phrase “No fun!!” Both notes were written in the same style and handwriting, Barket said.

Barket, a former prosecutor turned defense attorney, did not pursue formal handwriting authentication but relied on the unique access Epstein had to Tartaglione’s book and the matching phrasing to confirm authenticity. “You have two pieces of paper in a cell that only Epstein has access to,” Barket explained. “It was just some scribbles on a piece of paper, not a suicide note. It gave everyone confidence it was the same style, same phrasing, same handwriting.”

The note surfaced after Epstein’s first suicide attempt on July 23, 2019, when he was found with marks around his neck but denied suicidal intent. After this attempt, Epstein was placed on suicide watch for about a week before being removed less than two weeks prior to his death on August 10, 2019. Epstein’s death was ruled a suicide by the New York City medical examiner, but conspiracy theories about murder to silence him persist.

Nicholas Tartaglione, who shared a cell with Epstein in the weeks before his death, had no involvement in harming Epstein despite initial claims by Epstein that Tartaglione attacked him. The note was turned over to the court handling Tartaglione’s case in 2021 and remained sealed until recently.

Barket questioned the prison’s handling of Epstein, noting that the note’s existence did not seem to trigger heightened precautions. “Some scribble on a legal pad would have led them more cautious than finding him with a noose around his neck?” he asked. Epstein wrote the note, attempted suicide, was moved out of Tartaglione’s cell, and then succeeded in taking his own life.

This new evidence underscores the ongoing failures and unanswered questions about Epstein’s death in federal custody. It highlights the troubling gaps in protection and oversight that allowed a high-profile detainee accused of sex trafficking and abuse to die under suspicious circumstances. The notes are a stark reminder of the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the handling of Epstein’s case and the broader justice system.