A French modelling scout who was under investigation over his alleged links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home outside Paris, French prosecutors said.
Daniel Siad, 69, was found dead at his residence in Colombes, northwest of Paris, on Monday. Prosecutors said an investigation has been opened to determine the cause of death, and an autopsy has been ordered.
Siad had come under renewed scrutiny after recently released U.S. Department of Justice files linked him to Epstein’s network. The files contained extensive correspondence between the two men and suggested Siad introduced young women to Epstein over a number of years. Siad acknowledged arranging introductions but denied knowing about or participating in any abuse.
French authorities had been investigating allegations that Siad helped recruit and traffic women for Epstein. Reuters reported that at least five women had accused him of rape and human trafficking, allegations he denied. His lawyer said Siad had never been formally charged and maintained his innocence, adding that he believed the death resulted from a heart attack, although the official cause has not yet been determined.
Siad is the second person in France with known ties to Epstein to die in recent years. In 2022, French modelling agent Jean Luc Brunel, who was accused of recruiting young women for Epstein, was found dead in prison while awaiting trial. Brunel had denied all allegations. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, with authorities ruling his death a suicide.
French prosecutors said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Siad’s death is continuing, and no conclusions have yet been reached pending the results of the autopsy.
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