Security footage taken by a camera outside Jeffrey Epstein’s cell during his first suicide attempt is missing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Swergold revealed that the video evidence is gone in court on Wednesday, according to the New York Daily News. Swergold is prosecuting a case against former police officer Nick Tartaglione, who is accused of murdering four people during a drug deal.
Tartaglione’s attorney Bruce Barket confirmed that the footage could not be found. Barket requested the footage to back up Tartaglione’s testimony that the ex-police officer acted to save Epstein’s life when the convicted sex offender tried to commit suicide. The two were sharing a prison cell at the time.
Tartaglione faces the death penalty if convicted of the murders, and the footage showing him saving Epstein’s life could help him win a potential appeal of a death sentence. Epstein had claimed that his injuries were from Tartaglione attacking him.
Epstein died by suicide on Aug. 10 while awaiting trial for sex crimes. The guards tasked with watching Epstein left the inmate alone for roughly three hours after the guards fell asleep during their shifts. Those guards have been charged with neglecting their duties and falsifying evidence to cover up that they left Epstein unattended.
Epstein was removed from suicide watch two weeks before his death. He was placed on suicide watch after his first suicide attempt that was allegedly stopped by Tartaglione.
