Former French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, close to American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead in his cell in the Paris Health prison, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Saturday February 19. This same source specifies that an investigation into the causes of death has been opened, entrusted to the 3rd judicial police district.
Accused of rape by several former top models, which he disputed, Jean-Luc Brunel had been arrested on December 16, 2020. He had been indicted the next day for “rape of a minor over 15 years old” and “sexual harassment “, and remanded in custody. He was re-indicted six months later. The former agent had also been placed under the intermediate status of assisted witness, for the facts of “aggravated human trafficking to the detriment of minor victims for the purpose of sexual exploitation”. Jean-Luc Brunel had been released under judicial supervision for a few days last November, before being returned to detention by decision of the investigating chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal. He had lodged an appeal in cassation against this judgment.
His name was cited in an investigation in the United States into the sexual exploitation scandal involving Jeffrey Epstein, also found dead in his cell in August 2019. The Paris prosecutor’s office, alerted by the potential existence of French minors among the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, opened a preliminary investigation in August 2019.