- Surveillance footage outside Jeffrey Epstein's cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center during his first attempted suicide has gone missing, assistant US Attorney Jason Swergold told Southern District of New York Judge Kenneth Karas on Wednesday.
- Epstein, who was facing sex trafficking and conspiracy charges, first attempted to take his own life at the end of July in a cell he shared with Nick Tartaglione, a former police officer who is charged with the murder of four men.
- Epstein died by suicide on August 10.
- Attorneys for Tartaglione requested to retain the footage, following a report that the ex-cop tried to save Epstein's life after he attempted to hang himself in the cell.
- The footage could potentially evidence Tartaglione "good character" for trying to save Epstein's life, as he could face the death penalty if found guilty, according to the New York Daily News report.
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Surveillance footage outside Jeffrey Epstein's cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center during his first attempted suicide has gone missing, the New York Daily News reported.
Epstein, who was facing sex trafficking and conspiracy charges, first attempted to take his own life at the end of July, while in a cell he shared with Nick Tartaglione, a former police officer who is charged with the murder of four men.
Epstein was put on suicide watch, but soon after the convicted sex offender was taken off the heightened surveillance he died by suicide on August 10.
Assistant US Attorney Jason Swergold told Southern District of New York Judge Kenneth Karas that the footage of the first attempt could not be found, the New York Daily News reported.
The news outlet also reported that Karas has requested an investigation into locating and finding out what happened to the footage.
The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. The US Attorney's Office declined to comment to the New York Daily News.
Attorneys for Tartaglione requested that the footage be retained two days after Epstein's attempted suicide attempt, as Tartaglione claimed that he tried to save the disgraced financier's life, who attempted to hang himself in the cell, the New York Daily News reported.
"Nick acted appropriately and admirably," Barket told the news outlet.
The footage could be used by the defense as evidence of Tartaglione's "good character" for allegedly trying to save Epstein's life. Tartaglione could face the death penalty if he is found guilty, according to the New York Daily News report.
The missing footage adds another layer of mystery surrounding Epstein's case, after Barket previously wrote a letter saying that Tartaglione was pressured by prison guards not to speak out.
"The clear message Mr. Tartaglione has received is that if he conveys information about the facility or about the recent suicide, there will be a price to pay," the letter read. "Whether or not the investigators into the suicide chose to interview Mr. Tartaglione about the attempted suicide to which he was witness or about how the facility is run and the conditions under which the inmates are forced to live, the correction officers know he has information potentially very damaging to the very people now charged with guarding him or their coworkers."
Barket told the New York Daily News that Tartaglione still has yet to be questioned in relation to Epstein's suicide.
- Read more:
- Epstein's jail guards warned his cellmate 'there will be a price to pay' if he talks about Epstein's suicide, lawyer claims
- 2 officers who were responsible for guarding Jeffrey Epstein might face criminal charges for falsifying records
- Jeffrey Epstein died by apparent suicide in jail. Here's how the prison system makes that possible.
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