Note Found After Epstein’s First Jail Suicide Attempt Finally Unsealed

A previously hidden note linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s first suspected suicide attempt in jail has surfaced after a federal judge ordered its release this week. The note was reportedly found by Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein’s former cellmate, who claimed to have discovered it tucked inside a book shortly after Epstein was found with a bedsheet around his neck on July 23, 2019.

Tartaglione, a former police officer serving a life sentence for multiple murders, mentioned the note publicly for the first time last year on a podcast. Until now, it remained locked away in a courthouse vault, buried in unrelated legal wrangling over Tartaglione’s criminal case.

The note is brief and cryptic. It 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.” It ends with a stark warning: “NO FUN. NOT WORTH IT!!” The handwriting is difficult to decipher, and the author remains unknown.

This note was not referenced in official government investigations or the Justice Department’s recent release of Epstein-related files. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas, who ordered the note’s unsealing in response to a New York Times request, ruled that Epstein’s privacy rights as a deceased individual do not outweigh the public interest in disclosure.

Epstein’s July 23 suicide attempt left him with visible neck injuries and breathing difficulties, according to jail records. He was placed on suicide watch for 31 hours before being downgraded to psychiatric observation—the status he held when he ultimately died by suicide on August 10, 2019. Jail officials documented that Epstein denied any suicidal intent, citing his Jewish faith and fear of pain.

Tartaglione and Epstein shared a cell for about two weeks following Epstein’s July 6 arrest on sex trafficking charges. Both men were awaiting trial, with Tartaglione facing multiple murder charges. Jail interviews from late July 2019 show Epstein maintained he had no conflicts with Tartaglione and did not feel threatened.

Epstein’s death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center remains shrouded in controversy, with numerous documented failures by jail staff—including sleeping on duty and neglecting inmate checks—contributing to the circumstances that allowed his suicide. At the time of his death, a separate handwritten note was found in Epstein’s cell, but officials said it was not a suicide note; instead, it listed complaints about jail conditions.

The release of this newly public note adds another layer to the opaque and troubling narrative surrounding Epstein’s final days. It underscores the ongoing need for transparency and accountability in how justice is administered for powerful figures accused of heinous crimes.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story involves discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988 or via online chat at 988lifeline.org.