Model Recruiter Linked to Epstein Found Dead in France

A French model recruiter, implicated in connecting young women to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been reported dead at his residence just outside of Paris, as stated by local authorities.

Daniel Chiard, aged 69, was discovered deceased in his home located in Colombes, a suburb northwest of Paris, on Monday night, according to reports. French prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, and an autopsy is currently underway to ascertain the cause.

“An investigation to determine the cause of death began on Monday night following the discovery,” the agency commented in a statement.

For over a decade, Chiard was said to have introduced young women to Epstein, who passed away in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on serious federal sex trafficking charges. His name reportedly appeared nearly 2,000 times in a Department of Justice document released earlier this year.

Chiard was under scrutiny in France for allegedly playing a role in recruiting women who subsequently fell victim to Epstein’s abuse and human trafficking network. Allegations of rape and human trafficking are being investigated, although Chiard consistently denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer claimed he was never formally investigated and maintained his innocence until his passing.

Reports suggest Chiard asserted he had no knowledge of the alleged abuses faced by the women he introduced to Epstein, maintaining that he considered Epstein a reputable individual connected with Victoria’s Secret and the modeling agency MC2. “I trusted him and believed he was a professional,” he expressed.

Despite his passionate defense, a 2014 letter to Epstein noted his efforts to recruit women into the fishing industry, hinting at a sense of the unusual in his messaging. He once mentioned feeling like he would someday be a fisherman, remarking that sometimes the catch was scarce.

In a multitude of messages exchanged with Epstein, Chiard reportedly sent provocative photos of women he represented, further complicating his claims of innocence. For example, he once shared a note stating, “Cute French girl in Marrakech… she said she was happy to meet you.”

Shead marks the second individual publicly associated with Epstein to die in France; modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, accused of similar offenses, was found dead in a prison cell in 2022 while awaiting trial for allegations of rape and sexual harassment involving minors.

French prosecutors mentioned that the investigation into Chiard’s death is ongoing, with no findings regarding the cause of death disclosed to the public yet.