A veteran modeling scout whose name surfaced repeatedly in recently released Jeffrey Epstein files has been found dead at his home outside Paris while French authorities were investigating allegations against him.
Daniel Siad, 69, was discovered at his residence in Colombes, a suburb northwest of Paris, on Monday evening. French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and ordered an autopsy to determine the official cause. No official cause of death has been announced.
Death Comes During Ongoing Investigation
According to the Nanterre prosecutor’s office, Siad’s death occurred while he was the subject of a wide-ranging French investigation involving allegations of human trafficking and sexual offenses.
Authorities confirmed that an inquiry into the cause of death is underway and said forensic experts will conduct an autopsy before reaching any conclusions. Investigators have not suggested that foul play was involved.
Name Appeared Repeatedly in Epstein Files
Siad drew renewed public attention earlier this year after his name appeared thousands of times in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the Epstein files.
The records include years of email exchanges between Siad and Jeffrey Epstein discussing modeling work across Europe. Some communications referenced young aspiring models, including individuals who were minors at the time.
One woman who previously accused Epstein of abuse has said Siad introduced her to the financier years ago. Siad consistently denied knowingly participating in any criminal activity connected to Epstein and maintained that their relationship was strictly professional.
Lawyer Says Client Faced Intense Public Pressure
Following Siad’s death, his attorney said the constant public scrutiny had taken a significant emotional toll on him.
While emphasizing that the official cause of death remains unknown pending the autopsy, the attorney suggested the intense media attention and public criticism may have contributed to his declining health if the death is ultimately determined to have resulted from natural causes.
The attorney also noted that Siad had never been formally charged in France before his death and continued to deny the allegations made against him.
Multiple Women Had Come Forward
French prosecutors previously confirmed that dozens of women had contacted investigators after the release of the Epstein files.
Several women accused Siad of offenses including rape and human trafficking, allegations he repeatedly denied. According to prosecutors, investigators had gathered witness statements and conducted surveillance as part of the inquiry, but the investigation had not reached the stage of formal prosecution before his death.
Investigation Will Continue
French authorities have indicated that the broader investigation into alleged trafficking networks connected to Epstein will continue despite Siad’s death.
Prosecutors say investigators remain focused on reviewing evidence and examining allegations involving additional individuals connected to the case.
Meanwhile, the autopsy findings are expected to determine the official cause of Siad’s death, bringing greater clarity to the latest development in one of the most closely followed investigations linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s international network.
