PARIS — Jean-Luc Brunel, a prominent French modeling agent long linked to Jeffrey Epstein, died by suicide in his cell at La Santé prison. Guards discovered the 75-year-old hanged on Saturday morning. He had been in custody since December 2020, awaiting trial on charges of raping underage girls and sexual harassment.

Paris prosecutors confirmed the cause of death as suicide by hanging. An investigation is under way to determine how Brunel accessed materials in his high-security cell. Officials said he was alone at the time, with no signs of foul play so far.

Brunel founded MC2 Model Management and faced accusations of procuring young women for Epstein’s circle. Prosecutors alleged he lured non-English-speaking girls from Eastern Europe and elsewhere, flying them to the U.S. for Epstein’s use. French authorities charged him with aggravated rape of minors after raids on his Paris apartment in late 2020.

Arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport on December 16, 2020, under a European arrest warrant, Brunel denied all charges. Court records show he was prepared to testify against Epstein, though his lawyers maintained his innocence. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting sex-trafficking trial.

Brunel’s death marks the second high-profile suicide tied to the Epstein scandal. Friends and associates described him as a key figure in Epstein’s network. A 2015 civil lawsuit by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre named Brunel, accusing him of abuse and trafficking on Epstein’s behalf. Brunel called the claims baseless.

Prison officials placed Brunel under suicide watch earlier but lifted it months before his death. His lawyer, Eric Leroux-Morize, expressed shock. “He was determined to prove his innocence,” Leroux-Morize told reporters outside the courthouse.

The case drew fresh scrutiny in France. Anti-trafficking groups demanded reviews of La Santé’s protocols. “High-profile inmates keep dying in custody,” said a spokesperson for the French human rights league. “Questions about oversight are unavoidable.”

Brunel’s agency scouted talent worldwide, but allegations shadowed his career for years. Epstein invested heavily in MC2, reportedly providing $1 million in startup funds. Flight logs placed Brunel on Epstein’s private jet multiple times.

Prosecutors built their case on victim testimonies. One woman claimed Brunel assaulted her at age 16 after Epstein sent her to his Paris apartment. Another described being flown from Venezuela as a teenager for ‘modeling opportunities’ that turned exploitative.

No trial date had been set. Brunel’s death ends the French proceedings. U.S. authorities cooperated with Paris investigators, sharing Epstein files. The scandal implicated figures across fashion, finance, and politics, though few faced charges.

Brunel’s family requested a private autopsy. Results could take weeks. Meanwhile, Epstein-related probes continue in multiple countries.