©picture alliance / Palm Beach Post | Uma Sanghvi
Daniel Siad, the French-Swedish model recruiter who frequently appears in the Epstein case files, was found dead at his home in Colombes, northwest of Paris. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the cause of death. An autopsy is expected to provide more clarity on the matter.
Siad was under fire in France and abroad as an alleged recruiter for Jeffrey Epstein. According to documents released from the Epstein files, his name appears thousands of times, and investigators found evidence in his emails and contacts suggesting that he may have directed young women from several countries to Epstein. He himself claimed the relationship was purely professional and denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. Siad also faced multiple complaints, including allegations of rape and human trafficking. A former Swedish model, Ebba Karlsson, accused him of luring her to France under false pretenses in the 1990s and raping her there. Another woman stated that he approached her on the Champs-Élysées in 2004, dangled the prospect of a modeling opportunity, and ultimately put her in contact with Epstein in New York.
French authorities had been investigating Siad for some time in connection with the case involving Jean-Luc Brunel and alleged human trafficking within the modeling industry. That investigation revealed that Siad operated under various identities and was allegedly in direct contact with Epstein. He had informed the police that he wanted to give his version of the facts, but those interviews never took place.
It is not yet clear exactly what caused Siad’s death. According to authorities, he was 69 years old. His death puts an end to any potential criminal prosecution against him in France, but not to the broader investigation into the networks and methods surrounding Epstein.
©picture alliance / Palm Beach Post | Uma Sanghvi - Jeffrey Epstein in court in 2008.