Epstein broke neck bones

Reports say fractures may point to hanging

Jeffrey Epstein, who died last weekend after being found unconscious in his New York jail cell, suffered multiple breaks to his neck bones, including the hyoid bone near the Adam’s apple that can occur in hanging and strangulation, according to media reports.

The office of New York City’s chief medical examiner, Barbara Sampson, completed an autopsy of the disgraced financier’s body Sunday but listed the cause of his death as pending.

Yet a person familiar with operations at the detention facility said Epstein, who was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, was found in his cell with a bedsheet around his neck, according to the Associated Press.

The Washington Post first reported that the autopsy found Epstein suffered multiple breaks in his neck bones, including the hyoid. Asked about the neck injuries, Sampson said in a statement that no single factor in an autopsy can provide a conclusive answer, the Post reported.

NBC News also reported that the autopsy found a bone break in Epstein’s neck. Medical correspondent John Torres noted that hyoid fractures are more likely for older adults, and studies show they occur in roughly 25% of hanging deaths and 35% of strangulation deaths.

The FBI and the Justice Department’s inspector general are investigating the circumstances around Epstein’s death. Reports that guards did not check on Epstein for several hours before he was found have spurred conspiracy theories.