Epstein-linked model scout Daniel Siad found dead at 69 in France

The death of a French modeling scout whose name appeared more than 2,000 times in the Jeffrey Epstein files has denied alleged victims a criminal trial, as French prosecutors opened an inquiry into the circumstances.

Daniel Siad, 69, was discovered Monday evening by his 28-year-old roommate at his home in Colombes, a northwest suburb of Paris, the Nanterre prosecutor's office said. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death, with early reports suggesting possible cardiac arrest.

"The stigma cast upon him — and by extension, his loved ones — and the daily pressure and anxiety he endured undoubtedly played a role," Ménya Arab-Tigrine, Siad's lawyer, said in a statement. "We must await the autopsy results to confirm whether his body simply gave out. He has died, and he was innocent."

Siad had been under investigation since February 2026 on charges of organized human trafficking and conspiracy to commit a crime, French prosecutors confirmed. The probe remains active despite the termination of proceedings against him following his death, with authorities seeking to "identify all individuals potentially involved." Several women had filed criminal complaints accusing him of rape and human trafficking, including former Swedish model Ebba Karlsson, 56, who alleged Siad raped her in the south of France in 1990.

Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice showed Epstein paid Siad tens of thousands of dollars. In one 2014 exchange, Siad wrote to Epstein: "I had 2 girls from Sweden, a Slovakian, 2 French and a Russian." Epstein replied he would reimburse expenses. In another message, Siad sent a photo of a woman he described as having "potential" as a model or assistant. "Too old," Epstein responded.

Siad consistently denied wrongdoing, telling CNN in a recent interview he "trusted" Epstein and believed him to be "a professional person." He claimed his relationship with the late financier was "strictly professional" and that he never witnessed any abuse.

The death echoes that of Jean-Luc Brunel, another French modeling agent and Epstein associate, who was found hanged in his Paris prison cell in 2022 while awaiting trial on charges of raping minors. Epstein himself died by suicide in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting federal sex trafficking charges.

"We are at a loss for words to describe the anger and sadness we feel," lawyers for several alleged victims said in a statement. Anne-Claire Lejeune, who represents six women who filed complaints against Siad, told French media her clients were "devastated, shocked and angry" that Siad died before he could be questioned by investigators.

Lisa Brinkworth, co-founder of Victorious Angels, a group supporting alleged victims of Epstein associates, said the failure of French authorities to arrest Siad before his death was "beyond comprehension." She noted the case mirrors Brunel's death, where survivors were also denied their day in court.

The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed Siad had been under surveillance including phone taps, but said there was insufficient evidence to justify an arrest before his death. The investigation into Epstein's network in France continues.

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