Daniel Siad, a 69-year-old modelling scout with ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home outside Paris. His body was discovered on the evening of July 20. French prosecutors are investigating the death and will carry out an autopsy to determine the cause, although Siad's lawyer stated that he died of a heart attack.
Siad's name appeared nearly 2,000 times in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice. Messages exchanged with Epstein indicate that Siad repeatedly introduced him to young women, though Siad previously described his relationship with Epstein as strictly professional.
In France, Siad was under investigation by prosecutors specializing in human trafficking and was awaiting questioning on allegations of supporting Epstein to traffic women. At least five women accused him of rape and human trafficking. Siad denied all wrongdoing, and his lawyer, Meyna Arab-Tigrine, asserted that he was never formally the subject of judicial proceedings and consistently proclaimed his innocence.
Siad is the second man publicly linked to Epstein to die in France. Modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel was arrested in 2020 on allegations that he procured women for Epstein and was found hanged in his prison cell in 2022 while awaiting trial on charges of sexual harassment and rape of minors. Jeffrey Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.