What was the official cause of Jeffrey Epstein's death on August 10 2019?

1. Official determination: “Suicide by hanging” — the medical examiner’s finding

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for New York City officially concluded Epstein died by suicide through hanging; major outlets reporting the autopsy and medical examiner statement repeated that formal finding ^[1]. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson publicly defended the August autopsy report and said her office stands “firmly” behind the conclusion that Epstein hanged himself ^[4].

2. The autopsy detail that fueled controversy: multiple neck fractures

Autopsy reporting and later reporting of the autopsy photos stated Epstein sustained multiple breaks in neck bones, including fractures in structures such as the hyoid and thyroid cartilage, which are injuries that some forensic experts say can occur in hanging but are also seen in manual strangulation ^{[2] [3]}. Those specific fractures became central to debates about whether the injuries fit a suicidal hanging or suggested foul play ^[2].

3. The competing expert view: private pathologist says injuries suggest homicide

Forensic pathologist Michael Baden, hired by Epstein’s brother to observe the autopsy, publicly asserted that the pattern of fractures — including three fractures in the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage — were “very unusual for suicide” and “more indicative of homicidal strangulation,” and he said the evidence pointed toward homicide rather than suicide ^[3]. Media reports and interviews captured Baden’s contention and his recommendation that the fractures raised doubt about the official ruling ^{[5] [3]}.

4. The medical examiner’s rebuttal and institutional posture

Dr. Barbara Sampson, the Chief Medical Examiner, repeatedly defended the autopsy ruling and dismissed claims that the autopsy pointed to homicide; her office said the cause was suicide by hanging and stood by that determination despite the family-hired expert’s dissent ^[4]. News coverage shows the medical examiner’s office maintained routine practice in allowing an observer but did not change its cause-of-death conclusion ^[6].

5. Investigations beyond the autopsy: DOJ, FBI and OIG reviews

Federal reviews looked into custody and supervision at the Metropolitan Correctional Center and into investigative aspects surrounding Epstein’s death. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General report and related FBI inquiries considered the surrounding circumstances; the FBI’s investigative record in the OIG review concluded there was no criminality pertaining to how Epstein died, according to the OIG’s summary of findings ^[7]. Available sources do not mention a federal reversal of the medical examiner’s cause-of-death ruling ^[7].

6. Visual evidence, further questions, and ongoing public debate

Subsequent television programs and published autopsy photos renewed public questions about the circumstances and details of the death; programs such as 60 Minutes obtained photographs and interviewed experts who said the images raised additional questions about injury patterns and the body’s position when found ^{[8] [9]}. Epstein’s family and brother cited autopsy photos as raising issues about timing and body handling, while others point to institutional failures (guard checks, supervision) as contributory to the situation — but the sources above do not describe any new official cause-of-death reversal resulting from those photos ^{[10] [8]}.

7. How to weigh the evidence: agreement, dispute, and what is unresolved

Facts on which sources agree: the medical examiner’s office ruled the death suicide by hanging and the autopsy noted multiple neck fractures ^{[1] [2]}. Points of dispute: interpretation of the fractures — Michael Baden and some outside pathologists argue the pattern is more consistent with homicidal strangulation, while Dr. Sampson and her office maintain the hanging-suicide conclusion ^{[3] [4]}. The OIG/FBI review found no criminality in how he died, but critics emphasize unanswered operational questions at the jail and differences among expert interpretations ^{[7] [3]}.

8. Bottom line for readers

Officially, Jeffrey Epstein’s cause of death is suicide by hanging per the New York City medical examiner, a finding reiterated in media reports; however, credible forensic disagreement about the neck fractures and separate investigative reports into jail procedures keep significant questions alive in public debate ^{[1] [3] [7]}. If you seek a final resolution beyond what these sources report, available sources do not mention a subsequent official reversal of the medical examiner’s suicide determination ^[7].