French police investigating the Paris residence of Daniel Siad
Epstein Recruiter Found Dead
Daniel Siad, a prominent modeling scout accused of procuring women for Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home near Paris. French officials confirmed the 69-year-old was discovered on Monday evening.
Authorities have opened an investigation into his death and scheduled an autopsy.
Siad was under active investigation by French prosecutors specializing in human trafficking. He faced severe accusations, including rape, and his name appeared in over 1,000 recently declassified U.S. Department of Justice documents related to Epstein.
The ‘Fisherman’ Emails
The DOJ files exposed Siad as one of Epstein’s most dedicated associates. He maintained frequent contact with the disgraced financier until months before Epstein’s 2019 prison death.
Siad traveled extensively to Cuba, Sweden, and rural villages across Eastern Europe to find women for Epstein. Records show he received regular wire transfers to cover these international scouting expenses.
In a 2014 email to Epstein, Siad compared his recruitment tactics to fishing. “In This busyness I feel like fisherman some time I cache (sic) quick, some time no fish,” he wrote.
Epstein frequently demanded updates, sending brief emails asking “wht about new girls?” or simply “age?” Siad often highlighted the youthful appearance of his recruits, writing on one occasion: “26 but she look 18.”
In a 2009 exchange, Siad told Epstein he planned to spend the summer scouting small villages across Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary, promising him a “great surprise” upon his return to Paris. By 2016, he was still pitching women to Epstein from Barcelona.
Rape Allegations and Denied Justice
Earlier this year, former Swedish model Ebba Karlsson formally accused Siad of rape. She stated he scouted her in Stockholm in 1990 when she was 20, eventually raping her in France.
Karlsson filed criminal complaints for rape and human trafficking against him in Paris. Siad’s lawyer, Ménya Arab-Tigrine, categorically denied the allegations on his behalf.
Following the news of Siad’s death, Karlsson told AFP the outcome was devastating for his accusers. “It is very frustrating,” she said. “He was very close to be arrested. We worked so hard for this, trying to have justice.”
A Pattern of Denials and Prison Deaths
Siad publicly claimed his relationship with Epstein was strictly professional. In a February statement to the Guardian, he insisted he only provided women for legitimate casting sessions in Paris for brands like Victoria’s Secret and MC2, claiming the meetings lasted no longer than 10 minutes.
Speaking to France TV, the French-born scout of Algerian origin and Swedish citizenship claimed Epstein abused his trust. He maintained he never knowingly introduced Epstein to anyone who was subsequently abused.
Siad is not the first Epstein associate in France to die before facing a trial. He previously worked as a commissioned scout for Jean-Luc Brunel, a leading modeling agent in Paris and New York.
Brunel killed himself in a French prison in February 2022. He had spent 14 months in custody awaiting trial on charges of the rape of minors and sexual harassment.
French prosecutors established a dedicated team of magistrates in February to analyze the unsealed Epstein files. According to the DOJ records, the FBI was first tipped off about Siad’s recruitment operations in 2016.
