A handwritten note, purportedly a suicide note, allegedly written by late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been made public by a federal court in New York, years after his death inside a Manhattan jail cell sparked global scrutiny and conspiracy theories.
The note was unsealed by US District Judge Kenneth Karas after The New York Times sought its release.
The Contents of the Note
| Quote/Content | Tone |
|---|---|
| “They investigated me for months — FOUND NOTHING!!!” | Defiant |
| “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye” | Emotional |
| “Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!!” | Dismissive |
| “NO FUN — NOT WORTH IT!!” | Final |
The handwritten message contains several emotional and defiant remarks. It begins with a declaration of innocence regarding the investigation, before referring to charges dating back years. The note ends with the underlined words “NOT WORTH IT!!”
How the Note Was Discovered
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Discovery Method | Allegedly found by Epstein’s former cellmate |
| Person Who Found It | Nicholas Tartaglione (ex-police officer, convicted murderer) |
| Timing | Weeks before Epstein’s death (July-August 2019) |
| Judge’s Clarification | Release does not verify authenticity; document became part of judicial proceedings |
According to court filings, the document was allegedly discovered in 2019 by Epstein’s former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione — a former police officer and convicted murderer now serving multiple life sentences. Tartaglione and Epstein briefly shared a jail cell weeks before Epstein’s death.
The judge clarified that releasing the document did not amount to verifying whether the note was authentic or confirming how it was handled after being found. Instead, the court ruled that the document had become part of judicial proceedings and therefore fell under public access rules.
The Timeline of Epstein’s Jail Incidents
- July 2019: Epstein was found injured in his cell with marks on his neck in what authorities later described as an apparent suicide attempt.
- August 10, 2019: Epstein died in a separate incident officially ruled a suicide.
- At time of death: Epstein was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.
The Broader Context
Epstein’s arrest in 2019 revived scrutiny over his links to powerful political, business, and celebrity figures. The document had remained out of public view even as the US Justice Department released millions of pages related to Epstein investigations in recent years.
The unsealing of this note adds a new document to the long-running scrutiny of the circumstances around his 2019 jail death, which has been the subject of widespread conspiracy theories.
