US judge releases Jeffrey Epstein's purported suicide note

May 7, 2026

A US judge has ordered the unsealing of a handwritten document allegedly written by Jeffrey Epstein one month before his 2019 death in prison, which his former cellmate claims to have discovered hidden in a book. The note references an investigation that supposedly found no wrongdoing and discusses choosing when to end one's life, though its authenticity remains unverified by authorities. The document was previously sealed as part of criminal proceedings involving the former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, a convicted murderer who shared Epstein's cell and publicly discussed the note's existence last year.

Who is affected

Jeffrey Epstein (deceased convicted sex offender)
Nicholas Tartaglione (former cellmate and convicted murderer)
US Department of Justice
The New York Times (petitioned for unsealing)
Federal prosecutors
Judge Kenneth M. Karas (ordered the release)
The general public seeking information about Epstein's death

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The primary action—the judge ordering the release of the document—has already been completed.

Why it matters

This matters because Epstein's death has been surrounded by persistent questions, speculation, and concerns about security failures at the prison where he died. The release of this purported suicide note provides potential insight into his mental state before his death and serves public accountability and confidence in the justice system, particularly given the high-profile nature of his sex-trafficking case and the circumstances of his death while awaiting trial.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC