The Latest: Epstein autopsy performed, but results pending
NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the death of Jeffrey Epstein (all times local):
11:25 p.m.
A longtime pathologist says it's not unusual that New York City's chief medical examiner didn't immediately release a cause of death after performing an autopsy on Jeffrey Epstein.
Dr. Joe Cohen says the medical examiner's office is likely reviewing photographs, police reports and other documents to help confirm findings from the autopsy. He says it's "pretty commonplace" to delay releasing the death certificate for weeks.
Epstein died Saturday in what prison officials said was an apparent suicide. The 66-year-old had been jailed awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
The chief medical examiner said in a statement that a city medical examiner performed the autopsy Sunday while a private pathologist observed at the request of Epstein's representatives.
Cohen used to work for the New York City chief medical examiner and is now in private practice in California. He says private pathologists often observe examinations following in-custody deaths.
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7:30 p.m.
New York City's chief medical examiner says an autopsy has been performed on Jeffrey Epstein but that more information is needed before a cause of death determination is made.
Dr. Barbara Sampson said in a statement that a city medical examiner performed the autopsy Sunday while a private pathologist observed the examination at the request of Epstein's representatives.
The private pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden, was the city's chief medical examiner in the late 1970s and has been called as an expert witness in high-profile cases including by the defense at O.J. Simpson's 1994 murder trial.
Sampson says having a private pathologist observe an autopsy is a routine practice.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons has said Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell at a Manhattan jail early Saturday. The agency called his death an apparent suicide.
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4:50 p.m.
A person familiar with the Manhattan jail that housed Jeffrey Epstein says it was so short-staffed on his last night alive that one guard on his unit was working a fifth straight day of overtime.
The person familiar with the Metropolitan Correctional Center's operations told The Associated Press on Sunday that another guard in Epstein's unit was working mandatory overtime. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he lacked authorization to discuss jail operations publicly.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has said Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell early Saturday and was declared dead shortly afterward. The agency called it an apparent suicide.
The New York Times cited an anonymous law enforcement source earlier Sunday in reporting that guards failed to make mandatory 30-minute checks on Epstein's welfare that night.
-By Michael R. Sisak
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1 p.m.
A law enforcement source tells The New York Times financier Jeffrey Epstein was alone in his jail cell the night of his apparent suicide.
The Times spoke to the official on the condition of anonymity. The Associated Press has not independently confirmed the information.
An official with knowledge of the investigation told the Times that Epstein's cellmate was transferred. The official says the Justice Department was told Epstein would have a cellmate and be monitored by a guard every 30 minutes.
He was found unresponsive in his jail cell Saturday and the Bureau of Prisons says he was later pronounced dead of an apparent suicide.
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12:45 p.m.
A law enforcement official tells The New York Times that Jeffrey Epstein should have been checked on by guards in his cell every 30 minutes, but that didn't happen the night before he was found hanged in a federal jail cell.
The Times spoke to the official on the condition of anonymity. The Associated Press has not independently confirmed the information.
Epstein was discovered unresponsive in his cell Saturday at a high-security jail in Manhattan. The Bureau of Prisons says he was later pronounced dead from an apparent suicide.
He was facing sex trafficking charges and had recently been taken off suicide watch, a person familiar with the matter who wasn't authorized to discuss it publicly told The Associated Press. He was found in his cell with bruising on his neck two weeks ago.
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12:05 a.m.
Jeffrey Epstein has died of an apparent suicide in jail, prompting an investigation into his death and assurance from a U.S. official that allegations of sexual abuse and conspiracy will not be cast aside.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons says that Epstein, a wealthy financier accused of orchestrating a sex-trafficking ring and sexually abusing dozens of underage girls, was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday morning. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
A person familiar with the matter who wasn't authorized to discuss it publicly says Epstein had been placed on suicide watch after an incident a little over two weeks ago in which he was found with bruising on his neck.
But the person says he was taken off watch at the end of July and wasn't on it at the time of death.
