Nicholas Tartaglione, Jeffrey Epstein's cellmate, stated he discovered the letter inside a storybook after Epstein's unsuccessful suicide attempt, weeks before the inmate died in 8/2019.

The letter remained sealed for years in Tartaglione's criminal case file but was released by Judge Kenneth Karas of the Southern District of New York Federal Court on 6/5, following a request from the New York Times.

The alleged suicide note of pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, released by the court on 6/5. *Photo: Southern District of New York Federal Court*

"They've been investigating me for months and found nothing. It's great to choose the time to say goodbye. What do you want me to do, cry! There's nothing fun, not worth doing," the letter read.

US officials have not confirmed whether Epstein wrote the suicide note. The decision to release it comes amid questions surrounding the death of the billionaire, known for his powerful connections.

Born in 1953, Epstein was arrested in New York in 7/2019 on charges of luring dozens of underage girls and engaging in sexual acts with them. The businessman faced 45 years in prison if convicted. Epstein denied all charges and was held at a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial.

Epstein was found unconscious with a strip of fabric wrapped around his neck in his cell in late 7/2019. US officials determined this was an unsuccessful suicide attempt. The letter may have been written before this incident and hidden inside a comic book.

Jeffrey Epstein in a photo released in 3/2017. *Photo: New York State Criminal Justice Services*

Tartaglione, a former New York state police officer, shared a cell with Epstein while awaiting trial for the murder of four people. In recent phone interviews with the New York Times, Tartaglione stated the letter was written on a piece of paper torn from a notepad.

When guards questioned Epstein about red marks on his neck after the 7/2019 incident, he initially accused Tartaglione of attacking him and claimed he had no intention of committing suicide. Tartaglione denied the accusation, telling guards he "never had any problems" with his cellmate.

Tartaglione gave the letter to his lawyer, believing it could be useful if Epstein continued to claim he was harmed by his cellmate. Tartaglione was convicted in 2023 and is serving a life sentence.

Epstein's cell after the pedophile billionaire's death on 10/8/2019. *Photo: US Department of Justice*

Epstein died after hanging himself in his cell on 10/8/2019. His death was ruled a suicide, but security lapses in the prison and a lack of surveillance camera footage led to continuous public skepticism about the conclusion.

The Epstein scandal continues to impact US and UK politics, as documents related to the investigation into the billionaire's life have been released in recent months.

Huyen Le (New York Times, AFP)