(JTA) — Financier Jeffrey Epstein was found unconscious in his Manhattan jail cell with injuries to his neck.
Epstein, who was indicted for sex trafficking earlier this month, was found on the floor of his cell on Wednesday by guards at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, the New York Post reported. He was taken to a nearby hospital, according to the report.
It is not known how he received the neck injuries, with reports speculating that he either attempted suicide or was attacked by other inmates. Unnamed law enforcement sources also told the Post that it may have been a ploy by Epstein to get transferred out of the jail.
Epstein has been in the jail since July 8, when he was arrested and charged with sex trafficking underage girls. A Manhattan federal judge denied Epstein’s request to leave prison on bail and remain under house arrest in his $77 million mansion, ruling that he poses a danger to former victims and potential new ones.
In 2008, Epstein was convicted of abusing dozens of underage girls, but was given what was generally considered a lenient sentence — 13 months in a private wing of a county jail.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
