Warning: This story contains details that may disturb some readers.
Jeffrey Epstein's injuries suggest he was strangled to death, according to a former top medical examiner.
The notorious businessman and sex offender died in prison in August, awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The official autopsy concluded he died by suicide, specifically hanging, despite suffering injuries consistent with strangulation.
Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said on Wednesday (US time) he never saw injuries like that in anyone who hanged themselves in his five-decade career.
"Those three fractures are extremely unusual in suicidal hangings and could occur much more commonly in homicidal strangulation," Dr Baden told Fox News.
"I've not seen in 50 years where that occurred in a suicidal hanging case," he said, adding that Epstein had hemorrhages in his eyes more commonly associated with strangulation.
- Jeffrey Epstein's autopsy hints he may have been strangled - report
- Billionaire charged with sex trafficking of underage girls
- Donald Trump accused of historic rape
Dr Baden, 85, was hired by Epstein's brother, who suspects - like many others - that Epstein was murdered.
"They rushed the body out of the jail, which they shouldn't do because that destroys the evidence," Dr Baden said in a separate interview with the Miami Herald.
"The brother, Mark, doesn't think it was suicide - he is concerned it might be murder. It's 80 days now and if, in fact, it is a homicide, other people might be in jeopardy."
Epstein, 66, was friends with many powerful figures, including Prince Andrew, Hollywood producer and alleged rapist Harvey Weinstein, former US President Bill Clinton and the current officeholder, Donald Trump. He'd been convicted of sexually abusing a young girl before, but it's alleged he had dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of victims.
Cameras outside Epstein's cell mysteriously failed around the time of his death, and guards failed to check up on him every 30 minutes as they were meant to, because they were asleep. Dr Baden said he'd never heard of a prison suicide being allowed to take place after two prison guards fell asleep.
Epstein had just been taken off suicide watch before his death.
- Epstein's guards fell asleep, falsified records - prison official
- Guard at prison where Jeffrey Epstein died wasn't a correctional officer - source
- 'Serious irregularities' at prison where Jeffrey Epstein died - US Attorney-General
New York City medical examiner Barbara Sampson said in a statement she stood by her findings.
"The original medical investigation was thorough and complete. There is no reason for a second medical investigation by our office."
Dr Sampson didn't actually carry out the autopsy herself, and has not released the full report.
"The autopsy did not support suicide... then Dr. Sampson changed it a week later, manner of death to suicide," said Dr Baden. "The brother has been trying to find out why that changed... what was the evidence?"
Newshub.
