Verdict: No. The note exists and was hidden, but it does not prove murder.
A purported suicide note written by Jeffrey Epstein was found by his former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, weeks before Epstein’s death in August 2019. It has been sealed in a New York federal courthouse for nearly seven years as part of Tartaglione’s own criminal case. The New York Times petitioned a judge on April 30, 2026, to unseal it. However, nothing in the known content supports conspiracy theories that Epstein was murdered.
What the note reportedly said
According to Tartaglione (a convicted quadruple murderer serving life), the note was written on yellow legal pad paper and tucked inside a graphic novel. Its contents, per his recollection:
- Investigators had looked into him for months and “found nothing.”
- “What do you want me to do, bust out crying?”
- “Time to say goodbye” (with a smiley face).
The note was later authenticated as Epstein’s handwriting. It was never provided to the Department of Justice investigators examining Epstein’s death and does not appear in the millions of pages of Epstein files released so far.
Why was it hidden?
It was sealed by a federal judge in Tartaglione’s case to protect attorney-client privilege and other sensitive legal matters. This is standard court procedure, not evidence of a government conspiracy to hide a murder. The New York Times is now pushing for public release.
Does this prove Epstein was murdered?
No. The tone (“Time to say goodbye”) is consistent with a suicide note from someone facing serious sex-trafficking charges and a previous apparent suicide attempt in July 2019. Official investigations (New York City medical examiner and DOJ) ruled his death a suicide by hanging.
Conspiracy theories persist because of:
- Serious jail failures (broken cameras, sleeping guards, removal from suicide watch).
- Epstein’s powerful connections.
- The note’s absence from official probes.
But a suicide note alone does not overturn the medical examiner’s ruling. No concrete evidence of homicide has emerged despite years of scrutiny.
Bottom line: Epstein’s alleged suicide note was indeed kept secret for years in a court file, which raises legitimate questions about transparency. However, it does not prove he was murdered – the wording sounds like a farewell. The circumstances of his death remain suspicious due to jail failures and his connections, but official rulings point to suicide. Releasing the full note (as the Times requests) would help clarify things, but it is unlikely to resolve the deep skepticism around the case.
