Model scout for Jeffrey Epstein found dead at his home near Paris

Daniel Siad had not yet been questioned by investigators, but had denied the allegations, saying he wanted to give his version of events. Photograph: US Department of Justice View image in fullscreen Daniel Siad had not yet been questioned by investigators, but had denied the allegations, saying he wanted to give his version of events. Photograph: US Department of Justice Model scout for Jeffrey Epstein found dead at his home near Paris Daniel Siad faced allegations of rape and trafficking in France and appeared in more than 1,000 documents in Epstein files A modelling scout who recruited women for Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home near Paris, French officials have said. Daniel Siad, 69, was under investigation by the prosecutors specialising in human trafficking in France , accused of rape and other charges. His name appeared in more than 1,000 documents in the US Department of Justice Epstein files that were declassified earlier this year. Siad was one of several French men accused of aiding Epstein to traffic and abuse women. He had not yet been questioned by investigators, but had denied the allegations, saying he wanted to give his version of events. He was found dead in his home on Monday evening. An investigation to determine the cause of death has been opened and an autopsy is to be carried out. Bill Gates foundation met with Jeffrey Epstein about 30 times, external review finds Read more Siad traveled around the world, visiting villages in eastern Europe or flying to Cuba or Sweden, trying to source women to work in the modelling industry. Alongside searching for potential models, he looked for women whom he hoped Epstein might want to meet. He compared his work to fishing, explaining to Epstein in an email in 2014 that patience was required: “In This busyness I feel like fisherman some time I cache (sic) quick, some time no fish.” The files revealed Siad to be one of Epstein’s most loyal correspondents. He remained in frequent contact with him until months before the financier’s death, receiving wired payments apparently in lieu of expenses incurred during travel to find women. Siad was well connected in the modelling world and also worked as a scout on commission for Jean-Luc Brunel, who was the leading agent in Paris, New York and Miami for more than four decades. Brunel killed himself in prison in February 2022, after spending 14 months in custody awaiting trial on charges of rape of minors and sexual harassment, which he denied along with any participation in Epstein’s sex trafficking. Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. In an emailed statement, Siad told the Guardian in February that he believed he had been providing women to Epstein for legitimate model casting sessions in Paris. “He had a big apartment where he used to organise all his meetings, including casting for models I recruited, for Victoria’s Secret and MC2,” he wrote in an emailed statement. “The casting time would not