The mysterious death of convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein in a Manhattan prison cell in August 2019 continues to be a source of intense speculation and conspiracy. While a US Department of Justice report later blamed 'negligence' and 'failures' by prison staff for enabling his suicide, one of the loudest voices disputing that verdict comes from within his own family: his younger brother, Mark.
The Brother Emerges from the Shadows
For years, Mark Epstein maintained an extremely low profile, so much so that he told The Telegraph last year that 'most people didn't know Jeff had a brother.' Now 71, the property developer has thrust himself into the centre of the grim saga, giving a series of interviews to major outlets from CNN to the BBC's Newsnight to insist his brother was murdered.
'There are only three ways to die in prison,' he declared to NewsNation earlier this month. 'Suicide, natural causes or murder. And Jeff was murdered.' He has cryptically promised that 'more autopsy facts will be coming out in February that prove' Jeffrey was killed, asking pointedly: 'Why the cover-up? Who are they trying to protect?'
A Complex Relationship and Scrutinised Finances
Mark's sudden public campaign has inevitably turned the spotlight onto his own life and finances. He admitted to receiving threats after his brother's death, requiring 'armed guards for a while.' His wealth, though rumoured to be less than Jeffrey's vast fortune, is itself enigmatic; he has been 'semi-retired' since 39 and is thought to have made significant charitable donations.
Business connections have also faced scrutiny. Mark's company, Ossa Properties, once owned the majority of units at 301 East 66th Street in New York, a building he reportedly bought from Leslie Wexner, the former CEO of Victoria's Secret. Jeffrey Epstein rented several apartments there, listed in his 'black book' as 'apt. for models,' and it is alleged they housed associates of the MC2 modelling agency.
Mark has repeatedly stressed his ignorance of his brother's crimes and denied any ongoing business links between Ossa and J Epstein & Co. When questioned about his finances, he has been brusque, once retorting to The Daily Beast that since the US President doesn't divulge his business info, 'I see no reason why I or any other American should either.'
Claims About Trump and a Disputed Death
Mark has also made bold claims about his brother's relationship with Donald Trump, describing them as 'extremely close' and contradicting Trump's assertion that they fell out in the early 2000s. He alleges they spoke after the 2016 election and that 'Jeffrey definitely had dirt on Trump.'
His core mission, however, remains challenging the official narrative of suicide. Shortly after identifying his brother's body—the first time he'd seen him in seven years—he hired renowned pathologist Dr Michael Baden, who cited injuries 'extremely unusual in suicidal hangings.' In 2023, Mark submitted a tip to the FBI stating Jeffrey 'was murdered in his jail cell... because he was about to name names.'
While the 2023 DOJ watchdog report detailed shocking failures at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre, it found no evidence of criminality in Epstein's death. For Mark Epstein and many conspiracy theorists, this is not the end. The promised February 'autopsy facts' are likely to fuel further questions, ensuring this dark chapter remains firmly open.
