While the results of Jeffrey Epstein's post-mortem medical examination have yet to be officially announced, The Washington Post has cited unnamed sources as saying that an autopsy of US financier and accused sex trafficker has revealed that he had several broken bones in his neck.
The sources claimed that such injuries can happen either to people who hang themselves or those who are strangled.
Despite the fact that an autopsy has been performed, it has been unclear if the medical examiner has made a final determination into the cause of death, while an investigation into Epstein's apparent suicide is underway.
This comes as US President Donald Trump told reporters earlier this week that he is “absolutely” demanding a full-fledged investigation into Epstein’s death.
US Attorney General William Barr, for his part, underscored that “any co-conspirators should not rest easy” and that he was “appalled and […] frankly angry to learn of the MCC [Metropolitan Correctional Centre]’s failure to adequately secure this prisoner”.
“We are now learning of serious irregularities at this facility that are deeply concerning and demand a thorough investigation,” Barr pointed out.
Barr was echoed by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said that Epstein’s death “boggles the imagination”, suggesting that “this series of events is way too convenient”.
Speaking to the news network NY1, he argued that all those involved could say that they were watching Epstein “like a hawk” and that they were going to “take every measure to make sure nothing happens to him or he doesn’t do anything to himself”.
In a separate development this week, at least two computer desktops and an Apple computer were packaged and marked for transport during an FBI raid of 70-acre Little St. James Island, owned by Epstein.
Taking part in Monday’s raid were officials from the New York Police Department (NYPD), who are members of the FBI New York Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Meanwhile, investigators are looking into a scenario which suggests that the two guards tasked with watching Epstein may have been sleeping when he apparently committed suicide in his cell.
The guards are suspected of falsifying log entries to show that they were checking Epstein in his cell every 30 minutes. In this regard, investigators do not rule out that Epstein died one to two hours before his body was found.
The 66-year-old was on a suicide watch after his earlier suicide attempt in July, but attorneys pushed for him to be taken off the watchlist shortly before his death on 10 August at the MCC cell where he was awaiting trial on charges of running a sex trafficking ring involving minors.
Epstein’s apparent suicide prompted multiple conspiracy theories suggesting that some of his alleged prominent friends murdered him to avoid damaging revelations.