Dr. Michael Baden, a forensic pathologist hired by Jeffrey Epstein's brother, claims evidence he reviewed in connection with the billionaire and convicted sex offender's death suggests he did not by suicide.
"I think that the evidence points to homicide rather than suicide," Baden said on Fox & Friends, of all places, as cited in a Wednesday New York Timesreport. Baden also claimed that observed injuries were "extremely unusual in suicidal hangings" and occurred "much more commonly in homicidal strangulation," though his assessment of the Epstein death is not shared by New York City's chief medical examiner, Dr. Barbara Sampson.
As previously reported, Sampson ruled Epstein's death a suicide by hanging back in August. In a statement, Sampson said at the time that the determination was made after a "careful review of all investigative information, including complete autopsy findings."
In addition to disputing the nature of Epstein's injuries, Baden said prosecutors should publicly release the findings brought about by DNA samples. According to Baden, prosecutors "took fingernail clippings" from the scene, as well as additional possible DNA-related items. He's also questioned what he calls a "total breakdown" in security surrounding Epstein's death.
The 66-year-old Epstein was found dead at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on Aug. 10 after being arrested one month earlier. Prior to his death, Epstein had been placed on suicide watch. His death, expectedly, inspired a number of conspiracy theories regarding his purported connections to a number of politicians. Baden's comments on Wednesday will surely not help in the calming of those conspiracy theories, despite their presentation on a Fox News program.
