Model Scout Accused of Trafficking for Epstein Found Dead in France

Daniel Siad, a French modeling scout whose name appeared thousands of times in the declassified Epstein files, has been found dead at his home outside Paris, according to French prosecutors.

Siad's body was discovered Monday evening at his home in Colombes, a suburb of Paris, according to Marie-Céline Lawrysz, deputy public prosecutor at the Nanterre Judicial Court. An investigation into the cause of death was opened following the discovery, and an autopsy will be performed as part of that probe. His attorney, Menya Arab-Tigrine, said Siad's death was discovered by the sister of a neighbor and said she believed he had suffered a heart attack, though she was awaiting an official report.

Siad, 69, had not yet been formally questioned by investigators at the time of his death, according to French media. His lawyer told Reuters that Siad had never been formally placed under judicial investigation, a distinct legal status in France reserved for cases where magistrates believe there are reasonable grounds to suspect a crime occurred.

A Documented History With Epstein

Siad's name appears more than 2,000 times in records released by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. According to reporting reviewing that correspondence, Siad regularly sent Epstein photos and information about young women he encountered while scouting in Sweden, Eastern Europe and elsewhere, describing some as potential candidates for modeling work or as an assistant Epstein had asked him to help find.

At least five women have accused Siad of rape and human trafficking, allegations he has denied. A Russian-born model, Svetlana Pozhidaeva, has said publicly that Siad introduced her to Epstein and that Epstein abused her. "If it wasn't for him, my life would have unfolded completely differently," Pozhidaeva said. Another woman has accused Siad of raping her while she was working in France in 1990, an allegation he also denied.

Siad had been under investigation by a French office that specializes in combating human trafficking, and French authorities launched a renewed criminal inquiry earlier this year examining potential crimes committed in France by anyone connected to Epstein's network. In a recent interview, Siad said he had no reason to believe two women who told journalists Epstein had abused them after he introduced them had actually been harmed.

Part of a Pattern Among Epstein's Associates

Siad's death adds to a small group of people connected to Epstein who have died before facing trial. Jean-Luc Brunel, another prominent French modeling scout and longtime Epstein associate, was found dead in his Paris prison cell in 2022 after being held for 14 months on charges of raping minors and sexual harassment. French authorities said Brunel died by hanging in an apparent suicide. He had denied the charges against him, as well as any involvement in Epstein's trafficking network.

Epstein himself died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

An official cause of death for Siad has not yet been determined, and the French investigation into his death, along with the broader inquiry into his alleged conduct, remains ongoing.

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