Model recruiter who introduced young women to Jeffrey Epstein found dead in France

French Model Recruiter Linked to Jeffrey Epstein Discovered Dead in Paris Suburb

Earthguardiansonline.com – Daniel Siad, a French professional who spent more than ten years connecting young models with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was discovered deceased at his residence near Paris on Monday. Marie-Céline Lawrysz, the deputy public prosecutor at the Nanterre Judicial Court, confirmed to CNN on Wednesday that Siad’s body was located inside his home in Colombes, a suburban area of the French capital. Authorities have scheduled an autopsy to establish the precise cause of death.

Continued Trust Despite Epstein’s Criminal History

CNN’s Katie Polglase conducted a recent interview with Siad, during which he expressed confidence that two women he had recommended to Epstein—both of whom had previously told CNN that Epstein had mistreated them—had not suffered harm at his hands. Even following Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex-related offenses, industry professionals such as Siad maintained their business relationships with the financier. They extended invitations for him to attend fashion gatherings and permitted him to maintain associations with their modeling enterprises. Siad recounted that Epstein had convinced him he had compensated for his past transgressions and promised that “this would never happen with anybody” that Siad directed toward him. Speaking to CNN in an interview that appeared in June, Siad stated, “I trusted him and believed this guy was a professional person.” He added, “I never heard anything from anyone I introduced to him who came back to me that they had a bad situation. I believed this guy is a professional person.” According to Siad, he had understood Epstein to serve as a casting director for both Victoria’s Secret and the modeling agency MC2. However, CNN discovered no supporting documentation for this assertion.

Ongoing Investigations and Victim Testimonies

The Paris Public Prosecutor’s office announced that their comprehensive Epstein-related investigations, initiated in February and encompassing allegations of human trafficking and criminal conspiracy, would proceed without interruption. To date, twenty-four women have either come forward or been identified through a thorough review of information and a public appeal for victims. Investigators have conducted interviews with at least sixteen women, with additional sessions scheduled. Despite these developments, prosecutors indicated they had not yet gathered sufficient evidence to pursue an arrest of Siad. “Daniel Siad was the subject of special investigative techniques, including telephone intercepts, although to date these have not produced evidence justifying his immediate arrest,” the office explained.

Documented Connections and Personal Accounts

Department of Justice records reveal that Epstein disbursed tens of thousands of dollars to Siad. One message from Siad read: “Cute French girl in Marrakesh… She said that she will (be) happy to meet you.” Siad also mentioned that Epstein had requested assistance in locating an assistant. In a 2018 email, Siad wrote that he was searching for a “good looking young assistant” for Epstein. In another communication, Siad forwarded a photograph to Epstein of a woman, characterizing her as “very polite” and someone with “potential” as either a “model” or “assistant.” Epstein’s response was simply: “Too old.” According to DOJ files, Siad frequently transmitted photographs of young women he encountered while traveling, some captured in suggestive positions. CNN affiliate BFMTV reported that Siad’s name appears more than 2,000 times within the DOJ’s Epstein documentation. Svetlana Pozhidaeva, a Russian-born model, previously told CNN that Siad had introduced her to Epstein and that the disgraced financier had abused her. “If it wasn’t for him, my life would have unfolded completely differently,” Pozhidaeva told CNN on Wednesday. She noted that Siad’s passing meant he could no longer face accountability. “I wanted for justice to be served, for there to be some kind of investigation and achieve some closure,” she said. Siad’s attorney, Ménya Arab-Tigrine, released a statement on Wednesday affirming that his client had been prepared to “subject himself to the grueling media spotlight…to see the truth come to light.” “We must await the autopsy results to confirm whether his body simply gave out,” Arab-Tigrine said, emphasizing that his client remained innocent and had not been prosecuted or “formally implicated in any legal proceedings.” Epstein’s connections to the modeling sector remain central to ongoing investigations, including a criminal probe launched this year in Paris that is examining information related to Siad, according to the city’s chief prosecutor. Siad had also confronted accusations of abuse, including a rape allegation from a model who worked in France in 1990, which Siad denied. CNN’s Katie Polglase, Barbara Arvanitidis, Elina Baudier Kim, Curt Devine and Isabelle Chapman contributed reporting.