New Video Exposes Prison Guards' Neglect on Night of Epstein's Death
Shocking new video evidence has emerged showing prison guards failing to perform mandatory rounds the night financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide. The footage, first reported by the New York Post, reveals guards Tova Noel and Michael Thomas wandering around their station instead of checking on inmates at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan.
Guards Seen Chatting Instead of Conducting Critical Checks
The Justice Department video captures Noel and Thomas inside the Special Housing Unit's guard station on August 10, 2019. Around 3:15 AM, the pair can be seen writing on paper and engaging in conversation. This occurred during the critical period when they were supposed to be making regular inmate checks, including on Epstein, whose cell was located just down the stairs from their station.
Epstein and other prisoners had last been checked around 10:30 PM the previous evening. The disgraced financier died by suicide sometime between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM, when Noel and Thomas discovered his body during their breakfast round.
Explicit Warning Sign Ignored by Stationed Officers
A prominently displayed bright orange sign at the guard station explicitly instructed officers that "mandatory rounds must be conducted every 30 minutes on Epstein, as per God!!!" The misspelled "manadatory" was visible in the original signage.
Roberto Grijalva, who oversaw the ward, informed Department of Justice investigators that he had placed the sign next to the computer before leaving for the weekend around 2 PM. "Whoever was there, they watched - saw that paper. Monday, I came in and that paper wasn't there anymore," Grijalva stated, according to the New York Post report.
Aftermath of the Negligence and Subsequent Investigations
Noel and Thomas faced accusations of falsifying logs to indicate they had checked on Epstein when they had not. Both guards were ultimately fired from their positions, though criminal charges against them were later dropped by authorities.
Grijalva provided additional context to investigators, revealing that Epstein's roommate had been discharged the day before the incident, and the financier was scheduled to receive a new cellmate. The guard supervisor noted that Epstein had accumulated numerous orange sheets in his room, likely because guards failed to remove previous roommates' bedding and provided extra sheets when Epstein complained of being cold.
Epstein had reportedly requested a sweater from Grijalva, but the guard denied this request prior to the weekend.
Unrelated Doppelgänger Sparks Brief Conspiracy Theories
In a bizarre side story, internet users recently speculated that Epstein might still be alive after footage surfaced of Andrew Posey, known online as Palm Beach Pete, driving on I-95. Thousands commented on the striking resemblance, but Posey quickly dispelled the rumors by creating social media accounts under the handle "not.epstein."
Posey explained that going viral was nothing new for him, having previously appeared in the background of a Real Housewives episode and at a hockey game with his children. He insisted the attention wouldn't change his life, stating, "I'm not going to change. This guy is dead, and he was a really bad person, and I can hold my head high. I didn't do anything. I just happened to have similar looks."
The newly released video evidence provides crucial insight into the circumstances surrounding one of the most controversial prison deaths in recent history, highlighting systemic failures in inmate supervision protocols.
