World · French probe · ArchiveEpstein Model Scout Daniel Siad Dies Before Questioning — Second Death in French ProbeAired July 22, 2026 at 8:44 PM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00A model scout who prosecutors say0:01recruited young women across the globe0:03for Jeffrey Epstein has died before he0:05could ever be questioned. Jean-Luc0:07Brunel, 69, was found dead at his home0:09in Colombes, France on July 20th, the0:12second time a key figure in the French0:13arm of the Epstein investigation has0:15escaped trial. Brunel's 28-year-old0:17roommate discovered his body. Nanterre0:19prosecutors have opened an investigation0:21and ordered an autopsy, but as of July0:2422nd, the cause of death remains0:25officially undetermined. What is known0:28is that Brunel was named more than 2,0000:30times in the declassified US Epstein0:31files. He was under formal investigation0:34for organized human trafficking and0:36criminal conspiracy opened in February0:38of this year. Five formal complaints had0:40been filed against him, including rape0:42allegations from former models. Paris0:44prosecutors confirmed that at least 240:47women had come forward or been0:48identified, but here's the critical0:49failure. Brunel was under phone0:52surveillance for months and never0:53arrested, never questioned. His death0:56now terminates all public prosecution0:58under French law. Victim's lawyer,1:00Anne-Claire Le Jeune, who represents six1:02women who filed complaints, accused1:04prosecutors of what she called1:06scandalous inaction. The lawyer1:08representing six victims said1:09authorities had all the surveillance and1:11evidence they needed and simply did not1:13act. Brunel is the second Epstein-linked1:15figure to die before facing justice in1:17France. In February 2022, modeling agent1:20Jean-Luc Brunel was found hanged in his1:22prison cell. Brunel had scouted young1:24women across Europe, South Africa, Cuba,1:26and Morocco for Epstein, who paid him1:28tens of thousands of dollars. Former1:30model Ebba Karlsson has said he had1:32raped her in 1990 when she was 20 years1:35old. The broader investigation into the1:36Epstein network in France continues, but1:39for the accusers who came forward, the1:41system meant to deliver justice has now1:43lost its second defendant without a1:44single day in court.Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗