After examining Jeffrey Epstein’s body, Dr. Kristin Roman, the New York City medical examiner, initially hesitated to rule his death a suicide, as revealed in federal documents. Despite it being “pretty clear cut,” she wanted to be absolutely sure he hanged himself in his Manhattan jail cell due to the high-profile nature of the case.
During a review of the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death while in custody awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in 2019, Dr. Roman explained her reasoning for the delay to federal investigators. She mentioned the thoroughness required in such cases, especially with the public interest and potential threats involved.
Dr. Roman expressed her confidence in the suicide ruling, even without a full investigation. She wanted to speak to the prison employee who found Epstein’s body before finalizing her findings, but ultimately was unable to do so. Despite the speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s death, she stood by her determination based on the autopsy evidence.
Conspiracies and doubts about the cause of Epstein’s death have persisted, with a forensic pathologist hired by his family suggesting the possibility of murder. Dr. Roman’s decision to delay the official ruling on the death certificate only added to the speculation surrounding the case.
