Daniel Siad, a French model scout who allegedly introduced women to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home near Paris, according to French prosecutors. The 69-year-old was discovered in the Paris suburb of Colombes on Monday.
Siad was one of several French men accused of aiding Epstein in trafficking and abusing women. Multiple women claim he connected them to Epstein, who then allegedly abused them. Siad maintained that Epstein had deceived him and that he had no reason to know the sex offender “was dangerous”.
Siad was himself under investigation in France over allegations of rape and human trafficking, which he denied. Prosecutors in Nanterre said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of death, and an autopsy will be carried out.
Siad’s name appeared in nearly 2,000 documents released as part of the declassified Epstein files, which showed he regularly sent Epstein photographs of women he met while traveling. In one 2014 email to Epstein, Siad likened his recruitment efforts to fishing: “In This busyness I feel like fisherman some time I cache quick, some time no fish.”
Siad had not yet been questioned by investigators in France. His lawyer said he died an innocent man: “If he died of a heart attack, the unbearable waiting, the pressure and the anxiety he suffered every day will have had something to do with it.”
This is not the first sudden death in the modeling industry with Epstein connections in France. In 2022, modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel hanged himself in prison after being arrested over allegations he procured women for Epstein. Epstein himself died in prison in the US in 2019 by suicide, according to US authorities.
For victims, Siad’s death represents a lost opportunity to uncover the truth. “Another link in the chain has disappeared that could have helped uncover the truth and identify those responsible,” said Juliette G., a former French model who says Siad recruited her in 2004.
Former Swedish model Ebba Karlsson, who filed the first complaint against Siad in February accusing him of raping her when she was 20, expressed frustration: “It’s very frustrating. He was very close to be arrested. We worked so hard for this, trying to have justice.”
Source: www.aljazeera.com