French modelling scout with links to Epstein found dead

A French modelling scout with close ties to convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home outside Paris, according to prosecutors and his lawyer.

Daniel Siad, 69, was under investigation in France over allegations including rape and human trafficking, but had not yet been questioned by investigators, his lawyer said. French authorities had been examining accusations that he helped Epstein traffic and abuse women. Siad denied the claims and had said he wanted to present his side of the story.

The prosecutor’s office in Nanterre, in a Paris suburb, said an investigation into the cause of death was opened on Monday evening after the body was discovered. An autopsy is to be carried out as part of the inquiry.

Siad’s lawyer, Menya Arab-Tigrine, said her client had asked to be heard before his death. She said he had been innocent and suggested that the stress of the case may have affected him if he died of a heart attack. She described the delay in his case as deeply frustrating.

Siad’s name appeared in more than 1,000 documents released from the declassified Epstein files, according to the feed summary. He had previously compared his efforts to recruit women to fishing, and had said Epstein had taken advantage of his trust.

The death comes amid continuing scrutiny in France over people accused of helping Epstein obtain women. French investigators arrested modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel in 2020 on similar allegations. Brunel was later found dead in prison in 2022. Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

For some alleged victims, Siad’s death raises fresh concerns about accountability. Juliette G., a former French model who says Siad recruited her in 2004 to introduce her to Epstein, said another possible source of information had disappeared before it could help clarify what happened and identify those responsible. Former Swedish model Ebba Karlsson, who filed the first complaint against Siad in February, said she was close to seeing him arrested and called the outcome frustrating. She has accused him of raping her when she was 20.

Lisa Brinkworth, a former BBC journalist who co-founded a group supporting victims of abuse in the modelling industry, said the news was shocking. She accused French prosecutors of failing to act quickly enough despite Siad’s reported links to Epstein and the allegations against him, and urged an urgent investigation into others connected to Epstein who face similar claims.

This report is based on a monitored public feed. Source: Dawn Home - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017550/french-modelling-scout-with-links-to-epstein-found-dead