Daniel Siad, a modelling scout whose name appeared in documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home near Paris, French prosecutors said. He was 69.
Siad was discovered on Monday evening (20 July) at his property in Colombes, in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
The Nanterre prosecutor's office said an autopsy would be carried out to establish the cause of death, while authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding his death.
His lawyer said Siad died from a heart attack.
"Daniel Siad never stopped proclaiming his innocence," his lawyer, Meyna Arab-Tigrine, said in a statement.
Siad's name appeared around 2,000 times in files related to Epstein released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
French media reported that at least five women had accused Siad of rape, sexual violence and human trafficking. He denied the allegations.
His lawyer said Siad had never been placed under formal investigation by the French judicial authorities.
In France, a person is placed under formal investigation only after a preliminary inquiry, when investigating judges believe there are sufficient grounds to suspect that an offence may have been committed.
Siad previously said his connection to Epstein was purely professional. In an interview with French broadcaster BFM in May, he said he knew Epstein through modelling work and rejected claims that he had been involved in any wrongdoing.
French media reported that Siad allegedly helped introduce young women to Epstein and carried out scouting trips on his behalf from the late 2000s until 2017.
Those trips reportedly included Poland, the Czech Republic, South Africa, Morocco, Cuba and France.
One woman told French police in 2022 that she had been introduced to Epstein through Siad and later became a victim of his abuse, according to reports.
Siad said he believed Epstein had presented himself as a casting director with connections to the fashion industry.
Siad is the second person publicly linked to Epstein to die in France.
French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel was arrested in 2020 following allegations that he supplied women and girls to Epstein. He denied the accusations.
Brunel was found dead in his prison cell in 2022 while awaiting trial on charges including the rape of minors and sexual harassment. Authorities ruled his death a suicide.
Epstein died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was also ruled a suicide.
The investigations and legal proceedings surrounding Epstein's network continue to attract international attention, with authorities in several countries examining allegations involving people connected to him.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Donald Trump said the United States will target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “pretty soon” as he meets with Lebanese president Michel Aoun. Meanwhile, U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran while Tehran continues to target Gulf countries.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
The United States has bombed Iran for an 11th consecutive night as the Pentagon says the war’s cost reach $37.5 billion. President Donald Trump threatens a heavy strike on the suspected Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site. Tehran warns that any attack could trigger a wider regional escalation.
Ukraine's new commander-in-chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi, takes charge at a pivotal stage of the war with Russia, facing mounting challenges including troop shortages, battlefield reform and the rapid evolution of drone warfare.
ASEAN foreign ministers opened the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila on 21 July, launching four days of talks that run until 24 July. The agenda includes South China Sea tensions, Myanmar’s conflict and growing U.S.-China rivalry.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand has renewed calls for an immediate de-escalation and permanent ceasefire in the Middle East while she warned that the humanitarian situation had become "quite grave". Anand also raised concern over tensions in the South China Sea.
Pakistan has asked the U.S. for a $10 billion exchange stabilisation facility, according to a source briefed on the matter. If approved, the funding would bolster the country's foreign exchange reserves and provide a major boost to its cash-strapped economy.
A satirical online campaign has become one of the largest youth-led protest movements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, fuelled by anger over exam failures, unemployment and concerns about India’s education system.
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