[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
The night Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in prison, the guards appeared to be doing nothing very important at all!
In newly released surveillance footage made public via a recent Department of Justice‘s Epstein files drop, correctional officers Tova Noel and Michael Thomas are seen hanging out at the officer station in the Special Housing Unit of the Metropolitan Correctional Center at around 3: 15 a.m. — when they should’ve been making mandatory rounds!
Related: Was Epstein A Secret Father? New Evidence Suggests So!
Officers were supposed to check on Epstein, freshly out of suicide watch, every 30 minutes, including at 3 and 5 a.m. during the overnight shift, however, these guards never checked on him! He was last seen by Tova — who pulled a double shift — at 10:30 p.m. and was not found dead until the guards were doing their breakfast deliveries at 6:30 a.m. the next day.
So, what was so important that blocked Noel and Thomas from making those rounds?? Uh… it’s unclear.
In footage obtained by the New York Post on Saturday, they’re seen milling about, both writing on a piece of paper, and walking back and forth. Thomas also talks on the phone. All this is happening with Epstein just feet away. Per prison schematics, he was in the first cell on the block, just down a short set of stairs behind the officer station of the ninth floor L tier wing. See:
Watch it all HERE.
The guards seemingly ignored a bright orange sign hung near their computers that reminded officers to check on Epstein, specifically. It was left behind by SHU boss, Lt. Roberto Grijalva, and read:
“Manadatory [sic] rounds must be conducted every 30 minutes on Epstein, as per God!!!”
He told DOJ investigators:
“I put it next to the computer. It was just something between us, that said, make sure rounds are conducted and he has a bunkie at all times. It’s bright orange paper and black lettering.”
He left the instructions “right next to the screen, hanging on the PC” before he left for the weekend at around 2 p.m. on August 9. He alleged:
“Whoever was there, they watched — saw that paper. Monday, I came in and that paper wasn’t there anymore.”
Jeez.
He also added that at 8 a.m. on August 9, he brought Epstein and his cellmate, Efrain Reyes, downstairs. Epstein was busy talking to his lawyers all day. Meanwhile, it was likely that Reyes was headed home that day. He recalled:
“When I walked them towards the door, I said, ‘you’re going to get a bunkie.’ Epstein is like, ‘No, I’m good.’”
He continued:
“He seemed calm. He joked around because he asked for a new jumper and I told him, ‘No.’ And he said, ‘Why not? I was like, ‘It’s a jail, this is what you got to do. Nobody else gets a jumper, it’s not Versace,’ you know. He’s, ‘Ha, ha, ha, ha,’ he laughed and that’s it.”
Grijalva told staff several times that the convicted sex offender would need a new cellmate that night.
As for why Epstein was found with multiple orange sheets in his cell with him, which he reportedly used to end his life, Grijalva suspected officers failed to remove Reyes’ sheets and likely gave Epstein even more sheets after complaining about being cold. He remarked:
“They f**ked up. Sorry. That’s a big no go.”
Noel and Thomas were both fired and faced criminal charges, which were dropped in 2021. Trouble isn’t over, though. Noel was called to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee on Thursday after it was alleged she googled Epstein shortly before his death and received mysterious cash deposits. Hmm. It’ll be very inneresting to hear what she has to say!
Thoughts?? Let us know (below).
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, help is available. Consider contacting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, by calling, texting, or chatting, or go to 988lifeline.org.
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