French modeling recruiter Daniel Siad was found dead on Monday, July 20, 2026, at his residence in Colombes, a northwest suburb of Paris.

 

Model scout for Jeffrey Epstein found dead at his home near Paris

French modeling recruiter Daniel Siad was found dead on Monday, July 20, 2026, at his residence in Colombes, a northwest suburb of Paris. The 69-year-old was a central figure in declassified files linking him to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Key Details of His Death

• Discovery: A 28-year-old woman staying at the house found his unresponsive body in the kitchen.
• Suspected Cause: While local media reported a cardiac arrest, French authorities have opened an official investigation and ordered an autopsy to confirm the exact cause and manner of death.
• Legal Status: Siad was actively under investigation in France for organized human trafficking, conspiracy, and separate allegations of rape, though he had not yet been formally arrested or questioned.

According to the Nanterre Prosecutor's Office, “An investigation to determine the cause of death was opened on Monday evening following the discovery,” adding that an autopsy will be carried out.

Ties to Jeffrey Epstein

Siad’s name appeared up to 2,000 times in declassified U.S. Department of Justice files. The documents revealed a decade-long relationship where Siad regularly emailed photos and scouted young women—frequently describing their youthful appearance—to introduce to Epstein for what he claimed were legitimate model casting sessions.

As reported by Al Jazeera, “Siad maintained that Epstein had deceived him and that he had no reason to know the sex offender ‘was dangerous’.”

Victim Reactions

The sudden death has left multiple survivors frustrated and devastated, as criminal proceedings against Siad are now terminated, effectively halting a primary avenue for legal accountability and justice.

• Ebba Karlsson: The former Swedish model who filed the initial criminal complaint against Siad expressed deep disappointment, noting they had worked for years to build a case.
• Juliette G.: Another former model recruited by Siad lamented that "another link in the chain has disappeared".

Siad is the second French modeling insider connected to Epstein to die before facing trial; modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel died by suicide in a French prison cell in 2022 while awaiting trial on minor sex-trafficking charges. Despite Siad's death, chief Paris prosecutors confirmed that the broader human trafficking investigation into Epstein's French network will continue