Incident Report Details: Tartaglione Cell

MCC INCIDENT REPORT FIRST REPORTED INJURY — JULY 23, 2019 METROPOLITAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER, NEW YORK FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS INCIDENT REPORT: On July 23, 2019, correctional staff at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC), located at 150 Park Row, New York, New York, discovered inmate Jeffrey Edward Epstein, BOP Register Number 76318-054, in his cell with injuries to his neck. The incident was reported as a possible suicide attempt or assault and triggered the facility's emergency response protocols. CIRCUMSTANCES: Jeffrey Epstein had been detained at MCC since his arrest on July 6, 2019, at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. He was charged by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors under a two-count indictment, Case No. 1:19-cr-00490-RMB. On July 18, 2019, Judge Richard M. Berman denied Epstein's request for bail, finding that he posed a significant flight risk and danger to the community. Epstein was ordered to remain in federal custody pending trial. At the time of the July 23 incident, Epstein was housed in a special housing unit at MCC. He shared a cell with another inmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer facing federal murder charges. The circumstances of the injury were not immediately clear. Epstein was found in a semi-conscious state with marks on his neck. Tartaglione denied any involvement in the incident, and his attorney stated that Tartaglione had not harmed Epstein and may have assisted in calling for help. RESPONSE: Following the discovery of Epstein's injuries, MCC medical staff responded and assessed his condition. Epstein was placed on suicide watch in accordance with Bureau of Prisons Program Statement 5324.08, which requires continuous one-on-one observation by trained staff for inmates identified as being at risk of self-harm. He was moved to a suicide prevention cell and monitored around the clock. After approximately six days on suicide watch, Epstein was removed from the heightened monitoring status and returned to the special housing unit. The decision to remove Epstein from suicide watch was later scrutinized by the DOJ Inspector General, Congress, and the public following Epstein's death on August 10, 2019. Questions were raised about whether the psychological evaluation that led to the removal of suicide watch was adequate and whether the Bureau of Prisons had sufficient safeguards in place to prevent a subsequent attempt. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS: Following his removal from suicide watch, Epstein was supposed to be housed with a cellmate and subject to welfare checks every thirty minutes. However, reports and subsequent criminal charges against MCC correctional officers Tova Noel and Michael Thomas revealed that these protocols were not followed on the night of August 9-10, 2019. Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell on the morning of August 10, 2019, and was pronounced dead at New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. The New York City Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide by hanging. Source: MCC Incident Report, July 23, 2019 Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York Federal Bureau of Prisons