Days Before He Died by Suicide, Jeffrey Epstein Gave Specific Reason for Why He Would Never Take His Own Life

Days Before He Died by Suicide, Jeffrey Epstein Gave Specific Reason for Why He Would Never Take His Own Life

Epstein died by suicide in his cell on Aug. 10, 2019, but a suicide risk assessment form dated Aug. 1 of that year listed Epstein's "overall acute suicide risk" as "low"

Liam Quinn, Nicole Acosta

Fri, December 26, 2025 at 8:51 PM UTC

3 min read

Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Jeffrey Epstein — Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty
Jeffrey Epstein

NEED TO KNOW

In the Department of Justice’s latest release of files related to its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, prison notes share more insight into Epstein's mental state while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges
Epstein died by suicide in his cell on Aug. 10, 2019, but a suicide risk assessment form dated Aug. 1, 2019 states, "He said he is Jewish and he said in his religion suicide is against the religion"
The DOJ has released a trove of files relating to the Epstein probe, many of which have been redacted

Days before Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in 2019, the sex offender claimed he would never take his own life because, he said, suicide is forbidden in his Jewish faith.

In the Department of Justice’s latest release of files related to its Epstein investigation, prison notes from his time at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City — where he was held while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges — offer a closer look at his mental state.

The notes mentioned a possible suicide attempt on July 23, 2019. According to the notes, Epstein told an interviewers that "he could not remember what happened" on the day in question "because of his " 'sleep apnea.'"

During a psychological observation from July 26, 2019, it was written that Epstein "does not like pain and never attempt (sic) to harm himself."

A suicide risk assessment form dated Aug. 1, 2019, stated, "He said he is Jewish and he said in his religion suicide is against the religion," per the report. "Overall, his current protective factors override his risk factors for suicidality. He is currently psychologically stable. He denied feeling hopeless. He is reporting positive future plans and reasons to live for."

The report listed Epstein's "overall acute suicide risk" as "low."

The notes also show Epstein denied having suicidal ideation on Aug. 8, 2019 — two days before he was found hanged in his cell. His death was ruled a suicide.

The DOJ has released a trove of files relating to the Epstein probe, many of which have been redacted. Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November, mandating the release of the investigation materials. President Donald Trump signed the law despite initially opposing it.

The law permitted the DOJ to leave out or redact certain materials, including information that would potentially identify victims.

Trump's name is found several times in the files and he can be seen in a picture with Epstein. The photo was one of several removed from the DOJ's website before it was restored following backlash.

Upon the release of the latest batch of materials, the DOJ said the files "contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump."

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Also in different images were several well-known individuals, including former President Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Michael Jackson and Kevin Spacey.

Epstein's longtime co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence after a sex trafficking conviction.

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