Handwriting Experts Confirm Newly Released Jail Note Matches Epstein’s Final Message

Forensic handwriting experts have weighed in on a newly released note linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s final days in jail, concluding it almost certainly matches the handwriting on a note found in Epstein’s cell after his death. The Associated Press obtained expert analysis confirming the two notes share unique characteristics in letter shapes, spacing, punctuation, and style.

The first note, recently made public after being sealed in an unrelated case, was reportedly found by Epstein’s former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, who shared a cell with the disgraced financier for about two weeks in July 2019. Tartaglione says he discovered the note following Epstein’s first suspected suicide attempt on July 23, 2019. The note expresses Epstein’s frustration with months of investigation yielding “nothing!!!” and his ability to “choose the time to say goodbye.”

The second note, long known and shown on CBS’ “60 Minutes” in 2020, lists grievances about jail conditions—complaints about food, showers, and “Giant Bugs.” Both notes end with double exclamation points and include the underlined phrase “NO FUN,” details that forensic document examiners say strongly indicate a common author.

Three independent handwriting experts—Thomas Vastrick, Bart Baggett, and Grace Warmbier—reviewed the notes for the AP. They noted matching features like the bowed curvature of exclamation points and the slanting lines away from the left margin. While none could definitively prove Epstein wrote the notes due to a lack of confirmed handwriting samples, they agreed the two notes were authored by the same person.

The discovery adds a new layer to Epstein’s final days, highlighting his bleak mindset amid confinement in the crumbling Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan after decades of luxury. Epstein’s references in the notes echo phrases he used in emails and previous communications, including a line mimicking dialogue from a 1931 “Little Rascals” film.

Tartaglione, a former police officer serving life for unrelated murders, had kept the note under wraps until mentioning it on a podcast last summer. It only surfaced publicly after a judge ordered its release this week following pressure from journalists. The note was absent from official Justice Department investigations into Epstein’s death and was not shared with jail officials or Epstein’s legal team at the time.

This revelation raises fresh questions about Epstein’s state of mind, the circumstances surrounding his suicide, and the transparency of the investigation into his death. It underscores the ongoing need for accountability and scrutiny in a case riddled with unanswered questions and powerful enablers.

We will continue to follow developments as more documents and evidence come to light. Epstein’s death remains a symbol of systemic failures to hold the wealthy and connected accountable, and these newly confirmed notes paint a darker picture of his final hours.