Financier Epstein, accused of sex trafficking, kills himself, officials say

NEW YORK — Jeffrey Epstein, the well-connected financier charged with orchestrating a sex-trafficking ring, killed himself while awaiting trial in a New York City prison, officials said Saturday.

Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday morning at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Fire officials received a call at 6:39 a.m. that Epstein was in cardiac arrest, and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Epstein hanged himself, the New York Times reported, citing unnamed officials.

Epstein, 66, had been denied bail and faced up to 45 years behind bars on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges unsealed last month. He had pleaded not guilty to accusations of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls.

Attorney General William Barr said he was “appalled” to learn of Epstein’s death while in federal custody. He said the FBI and the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General will investigate what happened.

A little over two weeks ago, Epstein was found on the floor of his cell with bruises on his neck, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. At the time, it was not clear whether the injuries were self-inflicted or from an assault. An informed source said Epstein had been taken off suicide watch. It wasn’t immediately clear when.

Cameron Lindsay, a former warden who ran three federal lockups, said the death represents a “shocking failure, if proven to be a suicide.”

“Unequivocally, he should have been on active suicide watch and therefore under direct and constant supervision,” Lindsay said.

Epstein’s arrest last month launched separate investigations into how authorities handled his case initially when similar...