A prominent French modeling scout, who had links to the controversial financier Jeffrey Epstein, was discovered dead in his Paris residence, according to the authorities.
The lifeless body of 69-year-old Daniel Siad was found on Monday evening. While an official autopsy is yet to be conducted, his lawyer, Menya Arab-Tigrine, informed the press that Siad suffered a heart attack.
“Though the cause was a heart attack, the overwhelming stress, relentless public scrutiny, and the stigma he faced undoubtedly contributed to his demise,” Arab-Tigrine stated. “We need to wait for the autopsy to understand if his body simply could no longer endure the strain.”
News outlets have sought comments from French legal authorities to shed more light on the situation.
Daniel Siad, a well-known figure in the modeling industry and previously connected to Jeffrey Epstein, was confirmed dead within his Parisian apartment, French prosecutors announced on Wednesday. (Justice Department)
Siad’s name appeared about 2,000 times in the Epstein files released by the Justice Department, Reuters reported.
“I am here in Barcelona I have girls staying with me from Australia Croecian origin, so you can speak with her very Sweet,” Siad allegedly wrote to Epstein in one email.
“I am looking to place her here and Paris.”
This photograph taken July 22, 2026, shows the home of model agent Daniel Siad in Colombes, a north-western suburb of Paris, where he was found dead July 20. Authorities opened an investigation into the cause of death and ordered a postmortem examination. (AFP via Getty Images)
“Photo?” Epstein replied.
Another email from Siad to Epstein from April 2009 included images of a 17-year-old Slovakian girl while he was scouting models in Bratislava.
At least 24 women have come forward as victims or witnesses of alleged acts committed by Siad or others after the February launch of a human trafficking and fraud probe, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau told Reuters.
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in federal custody in 2019. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File)
Investigators looked into Siad, but there wasn’t enough evidence to justify his immediate arrest, said Arab-Tigrine.
“Let us not forget that he was never prosecuted, nor was he ever formally implicated in any legal proceedings,” she said. “In the coming days, we must respect the grief of his loved ones. He has passed away, and he was innocent.”