Daniel Siad, a 69-year-old French modelling scout connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead at his home in Colombes, a suburb of Paris, on Monday, July 20, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. French prosecutors launched an investigation that evening, and an autopsy is planned or ongoing to determine the cause of death [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8].

Siad was under active investigation in France for allegations including rape and human trafficking linked to recruiting women for Epstein’s network. He consistently denied the charges and was never formally charged or prosecuted before his death [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. His name appears between 1,000 and 2,000 times in declassified U.S. Department of Justice files related to Epstein’s case, indicating extensive involvement [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8].

Several women publicly accused Siad of sexual crimes, including former Swedish model Ebba Karlsson and French models such as Juliette G. These allegations cover rape, grooming, human trafficking, and sexual violence [2, 3, 5, 6, 7]. Siad described his role as legitimate model scouting and casting work, stating in a February 2026 interview that the meetings with Epstein were brief and professional, aimed at introducing models to clients like Victoria’s Secret [1, 3, 5, 7]. He said, "He had a big apartment where he used to organise all his meetings, including casting for models I recruited, for Victoria’s Secret and MC2. The casting time would not last more than 10 minutes" [3].

Siad had close ties with another Epstein-connected modelling agent, Jean-Luc Brunel, who was arrested in 2020 and found dead by suicide in a French prison cell in February 2022 after 14 months in custody awaiting trial [2, 3, 5, 6]. Siad himself had not been formally questioned by investigators before his death [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].

His lawyer, Menya Arab-Tigrine, said Siad died of a heart attack and emphasized his client’s innocence and the pressure he endured. "Daniel Siad never stopped proclaiming his innocence," Arab-Tigrine said, adding, "If he died of a heart attack, the unbearable waiting, the pressure and the anxiety he suffered every day will have had something to do with it." She also stated, "We must await the autopsy results to determine whether his body simply gave out" [2, 5, 8].

Siad reportedly traveled internationally from the late 2000s through at least 2017, recruiting women on Epstein's behalf in countries including Poland, the Czech Republic, South Africa, Morocco, Cuba, and France [3, 5, 7].

French authorities and media publicly announced Siad’s death and the ongoing investigation on July 22, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. The autopsy results are expected to clarify the cause of death in the coming days.