BOP FOIA: MCC Night-of-Death Comms

BUREAU OF PRISONS — FOIA RELEASE Subject: Internal Communications — August 9-10, 2019 Facility: Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York FOIA Case Number: 2020-XXXXX RELEASED COMMUNICATIONS: DISCOVERY AND IMMEDIATE RESPONSE: Internal BOP communications documented the timeline following the discovery of Epstein unresponsive in his cell: Approximately 6:30 AM: Officers Noel and Thomas entered the SHU for morning count and found Epstein unresponsive with a strip of bedsheet around his neck. NOTIFICATION CHAIN: The communications show the notification process: - MCC duty officer notified the warden - Warden notified BOP regional director - Regional director notified BOP central office in Washington, D.C. - BOP central office notified DOJ leadership - DOJ notified the White House - FBI was requested to respond for investigation MEDICAL RESPONSE: - MCC medical staff responded and initiated CPR - EMS was called and arrived at the facility - Epstein was transported to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital - He was pronounced dead at the hospital FACILITY LOCKDOWN: Following the discovery: - MCC was placed on immediate lockdown - All staff were ordered to remain at the facility - The SHU was secured as a crime scene - FBI evidence response team was requested SUBSEQUENT INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: - Emails documenting staffing decisions for the night shift - Records of the cellmate transfer the previous day - Communications about Epstein's removal from suicide watch - Incident reports from the night shift REDACTIONS: Significant portions were redacted under law enforcement exemptions, though the general timeline of events was disclosed. Source: Bureau of Prisons FOIA Available at: https://www.bop.gov/foia/