Daniel Siad Dies as French Investigation Into Alleged Epstein Links Continues
French modelling scout Daniel Siad, who was linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home in Paris.
Siad, 69, was discovered on Monday in Colombes, a north-west suburb of the French capital, according to the Nanterre prosecutor’s office.
Cause of Death Under Investigation
Authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Siad’s death.
A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out as officials work to determine what happened.
Siad’s name appeared thousands of times in documents released as part of the Epstein files in the United States.
He denied knowing about the abuse allegations surrounding Epstein and rejected accusations of wrongdoing.
Allegations and Legal Complaints
Siad had faced several complaints in France, including allegations of rape, although he was never formally prosecuted.
His lawyer, Ménya Arab-Tigrine, said Siad had maintained his innocence.
“He is dead and he was innocent,” she said in a statement.
Several women had accused Siad of links to Epstein’s network, with one alleged victim telling the BBC that Siad introduced her to Epstein.
She described the meeting as a “complete set-up” and accused him of being involved in exploitation.
Siad Denied Knowledge of Epstein’s Crimes
In recent interviews, Siad said he had trusted Epstein and believed he was a legitimate professional.
“I did not know the women were being abused by Epstein,” he said.
He also denied allegations against him, saying: “I have never raped anyone in my life.”
His lawyer said Siad had never been convicted and argued that he should be considered innocent.
Victims Express Anger Over Investigation
Lawyers representing alleged victims said they were devastated by Siad’s death, saying it prevented a possible criminal trial.
They criticised the pace of the investigation and argued that victims had been denied the opportunity to seek justice through the courts.
One former model who gave evidence to police said Siad’s death meant important information about Epstein’s activities may now be lost.
Another Epstein Associate Died in Custody
Siad’s death follows that of another French modelling agent linked to Epstein, Jean-Luc Brunel, who was found dead in his Paris prison cell in 2022.
Brunel, who founded MC2 Model Management with Epstein’s financial backing, had been investigated over allegations involving sexual exploitation of minors. He denied wrongdoing.
Epstein himself died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
