Judge Unseals Jeffrey Epstein’s Purported Suicide Note, Shedding New Light on Prison Death

A judge in New York has unsealed a one-page note purportedly penned by Jeffrey Epstein in July 2019, shortly after a suspected suicide attempt in his jail cell. The note was revealed following a legal petition by the New York Times and is now publicly available, though its authenticity has not been independently verified.

The note reads in part: “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye. Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!! NO FUN — NOT WORTH IT!!” It was reportedly found by Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein’s cellmate for about two weeks at the now-closed Metropolitan Correctional Center. Tartaglione, a convicted quadruple murderer, has said he discovered the note tucked inside one of Epstein’s books after saving Epstein from an alleged hanging attempt.

This episode is part of a tangled timeline that culminated in Epstein’s death by suicide less than a month later in a different cell. A 2023 Department of Justice Office of Inspector General report detailed how Epstein was found unconscious with neck marks during his time with Tartaglione. Epstein initially accused Tartaglione of assault but later retracted the claim, saying he had no memory of the incident.

Epstein’s death has long been shrouded in suspicion and conspiracy theories, fueled by his connections to powerful elites and the high-profile nature of his sex trafficking charges. The unsealing of this note adds a new piece to the puzzle, suggesting Epstein was contemplating his fate and possibly struggling with his imprisonment.

Tartaglione’s lawyer has stated that the note was relevant evidence in his client’s case, as federal prosecutors had sought the death penalty against Tartaglione. The note, if genuine, supports Tartaglione’s claim that he did not harm Epstein but instead tried to help him survive.

The Department of Justice has stated it has not authenticated the note and is seeing it for the first time. Still, the government did not oppose its release, acknowledging a strong public interest in understanding the circumstances of Epstein’s death.

More documents related to Epstein’s incarceration and death may be unsealed in the coming months, as the fight for transparency in this case continues. For a man with so many powerful enablers, every new piece of evidence matters in holding the system accountable.