Federal Judge Unseals Alleged Jeffrey Epstein Suicide Note

Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex-trafficker, died by suicide in Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center on August 10, 2019. On May 6, 2026, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas ordered the release of a purported suicide note that former cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione—a 2023 quadruple-murder inmate—claimed to have found. The Justice Department has not seen the document and declined to verify its authenticity.

Philadelphia Inquirer

• July 23, 2019 – Epstein’s first suicide attempt; strip of bedsheet found.

Daily Caller

• August 10, 2019 – Epstein found dead; death ruled suicide.

Daily Caller

• 2019-2024 – Note sealed in a New York courthouse vault.

Philadelphia Inquirer

• May 6, 2026 – Judge Karas orders note unsealed; *The New York Times* publishes it.

CNN

• Note sealed for nearly five years before release.

TND - The National Desk

• Judge Kenneth Karas authorized unsealing.

CNN

• Nicholas Tartaglione serves four life sentences.

Mediaite

• Justice Department released millions of pages of Epstein-related material, but the note was absent.

CNN

Judge Karas granted *The New York Times*’ request, noting the documents “pertain to a matter of public interest.” A Justice Department spokeswoman said the agency has not seen the note and cannot confirm its authenticity, while emphasizing strong public interest in the circumstances of Epstein’s death. Bureau of Prisons records from July 2025 state Epstein “adamantly denied any suicidal ideation” and that a suicide watch was deemed unnecessary.

CNN

Legal observers note that the note has never been authenticated and does not appear in the Justice Department’s released files. Critics argue that emphasizing an unverified document may distract from unresolved issues about MCC oversight and the broader investigation into Epstein’s network.

CNN

Sources differ on the note’s exact phrasing, with some versions reading “They investigated me for month” and others “for months.” The authorship remains unclear; Tartaglione’s lawyers claim authentication, yet no public methodology is provided. The Justice Department’s inability to locate the note in its millions of released pages adds further uncertainty.

Mediaite

• “They investigated me for months — FOUND NOTHING!!!” — *Note*

TND - The National Desk

• “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye.” — *Note*

WTIC - Hartford News

• “There appears to be a strong public interest in the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death as described in the unsealing motion,” — Justice Department spokeswoman

CNN

• “I opened the book to read and there it was,” — Nicholas Tartaglione

Mediaite

The note’s authenticity will likely be examined in ongoing civil and criminal matters tied to Tartaglione’s case. Federal investigators continue reviewing MCC supervision protocols, and further documents may be released under the transparency mandate. Media and advocacy groups say they will track any new disclosures that could clarify the note’s origin and its relevance to Epstein’s death.

Mediaite