French model scout linked to Jeffrey Epstein found dead near Paris
A French modelling scout with close ties to the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home outside Paris, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Under investigation in France, Daniel Siad, 69, was one of several French men accused of aiding Epstein to traffic and abuse women.
Siad had not yet been questioned by investigators, but had denied the allegations, saying he wanted to be heard and give his version of events.
’An investigation to determine the cause of death was opened on Monday evening following the discovery’, the Nanterre prosecutor’s office said.
An autopsy will be carried out as part of the probe, after he was found dead in his home in Colombes, Hauts-de-Seine.
Siad appears throughout Epstein files
Facing several complaints, including allegations of [sexual assault], Siad was the subject of an investigation conducted by the office specialising in combating human trafficking.
Siad’s name appeared in more than 1,000 documents released as part of the declassified Epstein files.
He likened his efforts to recruit women to fishing.
’In This busyness I feel like fisherman some time I cache quick, some time no fish,’ Siad wrote to Epstein in 2014.
Siad had insisted that the American convicted [sexual intercourse] offender had ’taken advantage of his trust.’
Born in Algeria, he allegedly acted as a pimp for Epstein, working with him from the early 2000s to 2017.
He scouted models from across the world. In 2022, a French woman told police how she had been caught in Epstein’s grasp after Siad introduced her to the paedophile financier.
Siad admits connecting young women to Epstein
And in May, Siad told French media that he knew and connected young women to Epstein.
Despite this, he claimed that Epstein always presented himself in a professional manner as a casting director for Victoria’s Secret.
He told CNN last month he always ’trusted’ Epstein and only had a business relationship with him.
Siad claimed: ’I trust in him, I believe him. This guy is a professional person -he needs somebody. He knows I have good connections around.
’If I find the right person who can assist him, I am honoured.’
Model scout insists meetings were professional
The now-dead model scout said that he visited Epstein’s £10million ($13.3m) Paris flat, nicknamed Avenue Foch, but only went for business meetings.
He claimed: ’Each time I presented him with models, and I left with the models.
’I only had professional relations with him. I don’t know his private life.’
French authorities in 2020 arrested modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel after allegations he procured women for the US billionaire. He was found dead in prison in 2022.
Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for [sexual intercourse] trafficking.
Head of Investigations
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