- Daniel Siad was found dead at his home near Paris, France.
- Siad, 69, was under investigation for rape and human trafficking and appeared in over 1,000 documents in the Epstein files.
- The Paris prosecutor's office stated that an investigation launched in February on charges of organised human trafficking and conspiracy did not produce enough evidence to arrest Siad.
- Siad's lawyer insisted he was never prosecuted and called him innocent, while alleged victims described him as a professional trafficker.
- A former model stated that Siad's death meant information about Epstein was lost, as an important link in the chain vanished without Siad ever being questioned.
Daniel Siad, 69, was found dead in his home in Colombes, a suburb of Paris, on Monday. An investigation into the cause of death has been initiated, with a post-mortem examination planned. Siad's name appeared in over 1,000 documents from the US Department of Justice related to Jeffrey Epstein.123
French prosecutors had been investigating Siad for allegations of organized human trafficking and conspiracy since February 2026, but stated there was insufficient evidence for his arrest. “The investigation opened on 18 February 2026 covering charges of organised human trafficking and conspiracy to commit a crime is continuing,” the Paris prosecutor's office said.4
Siad's lawyer emphasized that he had “never been prosecuted”, asserting his innocence. However, Epstein victim Anya described him as “essentially a professional trafficker”, and another former model lamented that his death meant vital information about Epstein was lost. “An important link in the chain has just vanished into thin air,” she stated.567
Earlier this year, Siad faced accusations of rape from former model Ebba Karlsson, who claimed he assaulted her in France after scouting her in Sweden. Karlsson expressed frustration over Siad's death, stating, “He was very close to be arrested. We worked so hard for this, trying to have justice.” Siad had previously claimed he was unaware of Epstein's dangerous nature, stating, “I had not been in a position to know that this man was dangerous.”
“Siad's name appeared in over 1,000 DOJ Epstein files, and a former Swedish model accused him of rape in 1990. The Paris prosecutor's office said telephone surveillance did not justify his arrest, and a victim described him as 'essentially a professional trafficker'.”
BBC
The Guardian
