Why was Jeffrey Epstein afraid of MS-13? Sex trafficker spent final days in fear
The final days of child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in prison had him fearing for his life, agitated at battling major constipation issues, and sleep deprivation. Epstein hanged himself to death in his prison cell using a bedsheet on August 10, 2020. In the months leading to his suicide, Epstein had maintained "being alive was fun" at the many psychotic evaluation appointments. He repeatedly denied being suicidal despite being on suicide watch after an apparent attempt. The Times obtained more than 2,000 pages of records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons which described Epstein as "cooperative, goal directed, and psychologically stable" in the days before he hung from the ceiling.
Epstein's co-conspirator, lover, and alleged madam who allegedly sourced underage girls for him is set to go on trial on November 29 and is said to last for six weeks. Maxwell was charged with conspiracy to entice minors, and enticement of a minor, to travel to engage in illegal sex acts; conspiracy to transport minors, and transportation of a minor, with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and two of perjury after being arrested last year. In March this year she was slapped with fresh federal charges - of being part of a sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of a minor. So far, she denied not guilty to all charges.
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What is the MS-13 gang and why did Epstein fear them?
BBC reports, the MS stands for Mara Salvatrucha and the gang originated in the barrios of Los Angeles during the 1980s. It was formed by immigrants who had fled El Salvador's long and brutal civil war, and other joinees included people from Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. Mara Salvatrucha translates to a gang of street smarts from Salvador, and the 13 stands for M's position in the alphabet. FBI states the gang has spread to 46 states and has an extreme record of violence, mostly resorting to killing with machetes. The gang has been accused of recruiting poor and underage teenagers. All members are marked with large chest tattoos and the ones who attempt to leave are murdered by fellow members.
Epstein was being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan along with a huge number of MS-13 members who were in the same unit as him. The registered sex offender asked to be relocated to another unit citing safety reasons as there were "many MS-13 gang members on the initial unit." His request was granted, as well as help was offered to help resolve other issues he faced. Epstein complained he couldn't sleep at all at nights because of his cellmate who talked a lot. The toilet in his cell ran continuously adding to his woes which coupled with constipation had him "agitated" and "sitting in the corner, holding his ears."
Other than that, Epstein was positive about the future, even telling his psychologist "being alive is fun" days before hanging himself. He reportedly asked to speak to his lawyer, brush his teeth, and a shower. A psychologist noted that Epstein was polite and had a sense of humor. "He was future-oriented," the psychologist noted adding that Epstein denied having ever sexually abused anyone and believed he would be released after his renewed bail hearing. In another document it was revealed Epstein has "no interest in killing himself" days before he hanged himself at what's considered one of the most secure detention centres in the country.