Fact Check: Yes, Jeffrey Epstein Is Still Dead

The unsealing of court documents, naming connections to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, appears to have reignited speculation about how he died.

Documents detailing depositions that refer to people connected with the sex offender were released on Wednesday by a U.S. District Court in New York, and mentioned the names of more than 80 people, including former presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as Prince Andrew.

Following the release, former Fox News host Megyn Kelly said via online broadcast that her viewers may hear from Epstein "directly" over the coming year, leading to wild online commentary questioning whether he died at all.

The Claim

A post on X, formerly Twitter, by conspiracy theorist Matt Wallace, posted on January 4, 2024, viewed 666,000 times, stated "MEGYN KELLY JUST HINTED SHE HAS PROOF JEFFREY EPSTEIN IS STILL ALIVE."

Another post by user @ShadowofEzra, also on January 4, 2024, viewed 139,000 times, stated "Megyn Kelly just hinted that Jeffrey Epstein might still be alive."

Another post by user @DramaAlert, posted on January 5, 2024, viewed 297,000 times, stated "Jeffrey Epstein still alive? Megan Kelly says we going to hear from him directly!"

The Facts

Kelly, who left Fox News in 2017, claimed on Thursday that she had more information about Jeffrey Epstein to reveal, telling her viewers to expect to hear from him directly.

In a TikTok, viewed more than a million times since it was posted on Thursday, Kelly said: "It's all fascinating and we're not done with Jeffrey Epstein. I can tell you that for a fact.

"I can't tell you how I know, but I can tell you for a fact that we're going to hear a lot more about Jeffrey Epstein in the coming year, and you may be even hearing from him directly. More on that as I'm allowed to tell you."

The clip was taken from an episode of The Megyn Kelly Show posted the same day. In the show, before the clip was posted on TikTok, Kelly discussed the conspiracy theory that Jeffrey Epstein was murdered. At no point did Kelly suggest that Epstein was still alive or mention supporting theories.

Newsweek has contacted media representatives for Megyn Kelly for comment.

Nonetheless, claiming that her viewers may hear from Epstein "directly" in the future was enough to set off conspiracy theorists.

On August 10, 2019, Epstein was found hanged in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, where he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Guards attempted to resuscitate him before he was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead.

While the cause of Jeffrey Epstein's death has been disputed, the late New York financier is dead, as multiple investigations and evidence have verified. Court filings available through the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands show that Epstein's death certificate was certified under seal on August 24, 2019.

The same filings also provide details about how his estate has been handled since his death. A fund created by Epstein's estate to compensate victims of his crimes paid out almost $125 million to over 135 people.

New York Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson performed an autopsy of Epstein on August 11, 2019, concluding that the cause of death was hanging and the manner of death suicide.

That autopsy was observed by Dr. Michael Baden, a forensic pathologist hired by Epstein's brother. Baden disputed Sampson's conclusion, telling the press that breakages of Epstein's hyoid bone, close to the Adam's apple, were "extremely unusual in suicidal hangings and could occur much more commonly in homicidal strangulation." Sampson responded, stating the Medical Examiner's Office stood by its determination.

Epstein's death and the circumstances leading up to it were also the subject of two separate investigations by the Office of the Inspector General of the Justice Department and the FBI. Furthermore, photos from the autopsy were published by 60 Minutes in January 2020.

So, while the circumstances of Epstein's death remain an open question to some, the fact that he is dead has been established by multiple authorities.

The Ruling

False.

Although Megyn Kelly stated viewers would hear from Epstein "directly" over the coming year, it is clear she did not mean that Epstein was still alive. His body was autopsied in 2019 by New York Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson. The autopsy was observed by a pathologist appointed by Epstein's lawyers.

The circumstances of his death were also investigated by the Department of Justice and the FBI and photos from his autopsy have been released to the press. Legal filings show that his official death certificate has been filed under seal and that his estate has been handled.

FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team