Latest / The Epstein Chronicles / The Psychology Department At The MCC And Their Narrative About Epstein's Demise (Part 2) (5/25/26)

Transcript

The Psychology Department At The MCC And Their Narrative About Epstein's Demise (Part 2) (5/25/26) · The Epstein Chronicles

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Speaker 1: What's up everyone, and welcome to another episode of the
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Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to pick up
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where we left off with the psychological report on Jeffrey
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Epstein's death at the Sedents circumstances. Mister Epstein entered BOP
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custody on July six, twenty nineteen, with the history of
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convictions for sexual offenses and allegations comprised of more serious charges.
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The current indictment alleged sexual crimes against minors, and he
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was facing up to forty five years in prison. On
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July eighteenth, twenty nineteen, mister Epstein's request for bell and
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pre trial release was denied. On July twenty third, twenty nineteen,
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mister Epstein was found on a responsive in his cell.
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The motivation and context were never fully determined. After thirty
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one hours and five minutes on suicide watch, he was
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then placed on psychological observation. On July thirtieth, twenty nineteen,
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mister Epstein was removed from psychological observation and needed to
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be housed with an appropriate cell mate. This email was
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sent to seventy one mcc New York staff and as
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of August thirteenth, twenty nineteen, only twenty seven staff members
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had opened the message. On August ninth, twenty nineteen, a
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federal court unsealed approximately two thousand pages of documents into
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the public domain. These included graphic allegations against mister Epstein.
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Included was a book order receipt for titles such as
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SM one oh one, A realistic introduction slave craft, road
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Maps for Erotic Servitude and Training with Miss Abernathy, a
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workbook for erotic slaves and their owners. Additional high profile
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public figures were also named. The documents were part of
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a defamation lawsuit filed by redacted, a woman who alleged
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mister Epstein had victimized her, against a British socialite, Glain Maxwell,
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who was mister Epstein's ex girlfriend, associate and alleged madam.
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With the release of the information, it became increasingly clear
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that mister Epstein's chances of avoiding a lengthy period of
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incarceration and a broader public understanding of his private life
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were inevitable. Mister Epstein was afforded telephone calls on two
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different days. No records of the call exist, and it's
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not known with whom he was speaking. One occurred on
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or around July sixteenth, twenty nineteen, and the other on
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August ninth, twenty nineteen. Given the limited information known about
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mister Epstein, knowledge of the content of the calls would
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have been crucial to helping staff work with them. Following
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his final telephone call on the evening of August ninth,
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twenty nineteen, mister Epstein was moved into his shoe cell.
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He was single celled at the time because his cell mate,
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Ephren Reyus did not return from court. The need for
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a cell mate was communicated between day watch and evening
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watch shifts in the shoe, but no cell mat was
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placed with them by the e W staff. BOP staff
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knew mister Epstein's cellmate had not returned from court as
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early as one fifty pm that day. A review of
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the thirty minute round forms indicate unit rounds were not
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completed for the entire MW shift on August tenth, twenty nineteen. However,
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a memorandum from Lieutenant Stanley Jean indicates Officer Toauvin Nowell
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and Material Handler Supervisor Michael Thomas made a statement after
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mister Epstein's death that they did not complete proper thirty
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minute rounds at three am or five am description of
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the scene. A detailed description of the scene was unavailable
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because the officers who discovered mister Epstein did not write
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memorandums and cannot be interviewed. According to the report of incident,
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on August tenth, twenty nineteen, at approximately six thirty three am,
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while serving the breakfast meal in the Shoe Range nine South,
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mister Epstein was found on a responsive in his cell.
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Staff reportedly called for medical assistance, activated the body alarm,
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and began life saving measures. Arriving staff alleged they brought
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an automated external defibrillator and stretcher. Cardiole pulmonary recitation CPR
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reportedly continued while the AED was placed on Epstein. The
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AED reportedly indicated no shock advised and CPR was continued.
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Mister Epstein was escorted to health services at approximately six
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thirty nine am, and emergency medical services arrived at six
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forty three am. He was transported to the local hospital
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at approximately seven ten am. Mister Epstein was pronounced deceased
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at seven thirty six am. It was not possible to
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confirm this timeline without reviewing video footage. Conclusions recommendations. A
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general appreciation of risk factors for suicide with sex offenders
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is necessary when reviewing mister Epstein's death. There are several
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common factors that increase risk for suicide in individuals with
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a history of sexual offense. These include stigma due to
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the nature of sexually based crimes, both within society and
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the prison system, a disruption of the ability to utilize
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sex as a coping mechanism, which can lead to increased
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levels of distress and negative effect, and grief about loss
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experienced in regards to arrest. The grief may be secondary
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to the loss of former lifestyle, loss of physical items
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or collection relating to sexual offenses, and or loss of
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perceived relationship with victims. Other factors that may increase risk
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for suicide among individuals accused of sex offenses include safety concerns,
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potentially long sentences, and lack of skills necessary to navigate
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social relationships in prison. Mister Epstein was a high profile
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pre trial detainee awaiting trial on sex trafficking offenses. He
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had been successful, wealthy businessman with a number of high
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profile acquaintances that he accumulated through a combination of charisma, charm,
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and intelligence. Despite his many associates, he had limited significant
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or deep interpersonal ties. Although mister Epstein appeared to cultivate
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a large social and professional network, he was estranged from
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his only brother. Indeed, his identity appeared to be based
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on his wealth power and association with other high profile individuals.
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Approximately two and a half weeks before his death, mister
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Epstein appeared to attempt suicide, but ultimately denied it was
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a suicide attempt. He was convincing in his denial at
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the time. He was saved because his cellmate notified BOP staff.
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In the weeks before his death, he made statements that
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he was a coward and it was having difficulty adapting
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to his diminished circumstances. He also frequently referenced poor sleep
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and an inability to tolerate the noise of prison. On
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the day before his death, a number of documents in
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his case were unsealed, further eroding his previous enjoyed elevated
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status and potentially implicating some of his associates. Given his
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lack of significant interpersonal connection, coupled with the complete loss
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of a status in both the community and among associates,
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the idea potentially spending his life in prison was likely
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and tolerable. One single selling. It's recommended that all inmates
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be double celled, unless safety concerns or an odd number
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of inmates precludes this. Priorities should be given to inmates
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with the history of mental illness, self directed violence, recent stressors.
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It's recommended that a system of control be implemented, explaining
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who will be notified when a suicide watch or psychological
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observation ends and how that communication will take place. Because
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this is a life safety issue, the system of control,
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once approved by executive staff, should be reviewed in formal
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meetings such staff recalls, department head meetings, and lieutenant meetings.
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Two rounds thirty mins. Rounds are acquired by P five
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five zero zero dot one four Correctional Services Procedure Manual
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three Cell made assignments. When mister Epstein was placed in
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the shoe on July seven, twenty nineteen, executive staff decided
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mister Tartaglioni would be a cellmate. As explained by doctor redacted.
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Input was not sought from psychology services, and it's not
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clear if or how sex offender specific needs and associated
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risk were incorporated. Mister Tartaglioni was a high profile inmate,
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an ex police officer charged in multiple murders. However, he
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and Epstein did not share risk associated with being sex offender,
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and their pairing may have aggravated mister Epstein's risk for
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self directed violence. In an effort to treat mister Epstein
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the same as other inmates, a statement repeated by multiple staff,
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executive staff may have inadvertently overlooked the need to consider
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a significant unique risk factors associated with individuals who have
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been charge with, convicted or convicted of a sex offense.
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On July twenty fifth, twenty nineteen, doctor redacted sent an
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email to redacted Associate Warden explaining a consultation between doctor
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redacted and doctor redacted, National suicide Prevention Coordinator. In the email,
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doctor redacted reviewed and consulted and recommended from the Psychology
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Services Branch Central office that mister Epstein be housed with
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another inmate who had also been accused of committing a
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sex offense. There is no evidence this information was considered
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beyond this email, and mister Epstein was never housed with
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another sex offending inmate. It's recommended executive staff and correctional
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services staff include a psychologist in decisions about cellmates as
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a means of incorporating expertise about suicide risk, mental health needs,
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and interventions for a psychological stability. Number four documentation accuracy.
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On July twenty three, twenty nineteen, mister Epstein was found
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on responsive in his cell. He had abrasions on his
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neck and knee. There are inconsistencies between documents describing the
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circumstances of the scene. In a general administrative note in
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pds P E, Mr Doctor redacted documented information received from
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an operations Lieutenant redacted that mister Epstein was found with
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a string loosely hanging around his neck. In contrast, Officer
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Wilson Silva, who responded to the emergency, wrote in a
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memorandum dated July twenty third, twenty nineteen. In the memorandum,
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Officer with Silva wrote he saw mister Epstein laying down
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near his bunk with what appeared to be a piece
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of handmade orange cloth around his neck. It's critical that
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all descriptions of the incident accurately reflect objective evidence. Officer
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adacted wrote, mister Epstein an incident report for self mutilation.
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On July twenty third, twenty nineteen, after he was found
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on responsive in his cell. A Special Investigative Services threat
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assessment was completed on August two, twenty nineteen, but results
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were inconclusive as to whether mister Epstein engaged in self
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directed violence, willingly fought with the cell mate, or was
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assaulted by a cell mate. Although the incident report was
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written in a timely manner, it presumed the engaged in
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self directed violence and neglected to consider the other options
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of fighting an assault. Since it was unclear what had
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taken place in mister Epstein's cell, there should have been
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three incident reports written, one alleging mister Epstein engaging in
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self mutilation, one alleging mister Epstein participated in a fight
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or assault without injury, and a third alleging mister Tartaglione
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participated in a fault or a fight or assault with injury.
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It's recommended that staff remain open to all reasonable explanations
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for all behavior and take appropriate action for all those
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possibilities until a final determinations made. Doctor Adapted entered a
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Psychology Service intake screening into PDS B E m R
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on July eighth, twenty ten. The document has three typographical errors.
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She selected the no sexual offense conviction checkbox when in
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fact Epstein was previously convicted of solicitation of prostitution and
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procuring a person under the age of eighteen for a prostitution. Second,
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mister Epstein was erroneously identified as a black mail in
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the document. Finally, there's one instance where he was mistakenly
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referred to as mister Brown. Doctor redacted completed a risk
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sexual abusiveness document on July eighth, twenty nineteen. She marked
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history of prior prison sexual predation in the affirmative this
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is not accurate. Redacted mid level practitioner completed a history
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in physical on July ninth, twenty nineteen. An intake screening
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should have been conducted within twenty four hours of his
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entry into bureau custody. According to P six zero Tie
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three one to zero four. Officer adacted was responsible for
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observing mister Epstein and documenting his behavior while on suicide
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watch on July twenty third, twenty nineteen. Officer redacted mistakenly
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used an inmate suicide watch logbook between one forty am
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and six am on July twenty third, twenty nineteen, when
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he should have been using the staff Suicide Watch logbook. Inexplicably,
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misredacted drug treatment specialist reportedly noticed this error and subsequently
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hand copied all of Officer redacted's entries from one forty am
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to six am into the staff Suicide Watch logbook. She
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then initialed the entries, and this makes it appear as
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if she was the one conducting the watch. This information
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was discovered and conveyed in an email from misredacted associate
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Warden to doctor redacted with the carbon copied a warden
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redacted on August twelfth, twenty nineteen, of note, misredacted did
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not make an entry, explaining while she was making the
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logbook changes. Additionally, misredacted then wrote entries for six fifteen,
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six thirty, six forty five and seven am in the
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staff's Suicide Watch logbook. These were not part of the
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original entries made by Officer redacted, nor was misredacted assigned
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to work suicide watch post. It's recommended that if a
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staff member makes an entry error, the staff members should
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describe the error in the correct logbook, to include indicating
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when they became aware of the error. The staff members
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should then notify the chief psychologist. A review of Special
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Housing Unit Records bp dash A zero two nine two
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revealed a number of incomplete entries. The document is used
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to monitor provision and receipt of basic services such as recreation,
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medical round showers, mule consumption, et cetera. The Officer in
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charge signature is missing on ten occasions, and a medical
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providers signature is missing in seven instances. There are six
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instances which it's not clear if mister Epstein ate his meal.
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There are nine instances in which it's not clear if
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mister Epstein took a shower. There are ten in which
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it's not clear if mister Epstein was offered recreation. Corrective
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Service Manual requires accurate and complete information on the bp
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DASH A zero two ninety two. A review of psychology
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observation logbooks revealed significant discrepancies from the Approved Psychological Observation
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Procedural Memorandum dated April fifteenth, twenty nineteen. A correctional officer
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is required to complete hourly rounds and sign the logbook.
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One hundred and seventy nine out of one hundred and
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eighty three round signatures were missing. The lieutenant is required
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to sign the logbook one time per shift and signatures
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were missing in ten of twenty three instances, a physician
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assistance required to sign one time per shift, and sixteen
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of sixteen instances were missing. It's recommended that a review
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of psychological options procedure be conducted and if it can
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no longer be effectively implemented, the program should be discontinued.
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All right, folks, we're gonna wrap up right here, and
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in the next episode dealing with the topic, we're gonna
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pick up where we left off and finish this bad
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boy up. All the information that goes with this episode
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can be found in the description box.