A suicide note Jeffrey Epstein purportedly wrote before his 2019 death has been sealed from public view.
The existence of a possible note was reported by The New York Times, which cited a claim made by Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein’s cellmate, found in a chronology of the disgraced financier’s death.
The chronology was found in a trove of materials related to the Epstein investigation, including photos, emails and several documents, many of which have been redacted. Per the Times, no suicide note has been released as part of those files.
But the chronology does appear to state that Tartaglione, referred to by his initials, told investigators Epstein had left him a note.
The paper later soke to Tartaglione from federal prison in California, and he reportedly recalled parts of the note.
“What do you want me to do, bust out crying? Time to say goodbye,” the note said, per the Times.
The chronology stated that after multiple unsuccessful attempts, the note was “authenticated” by Tartaglione’s attorney, but did not provide details.
The Times further reported that the judge overseeing Tartaglione’s case ordered that his attorneys had to turn over the note to a federal court in White Plains, N.Y. It has since been sealed with other documents to protect attorney-client privilege, according to filings cited by the paper.
A court spokesperson declined to confirm if the note existed, per the Times. A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately return an inquiry from PEOPLE.
Tartaglione, a former police officer, is serving a life sentence for the murders of four people in 2016.
On July 23, 2019, just weeks before his death, Epstein was discovered on the floor of his cell with injuries to his neck. He initially told guards that Tartaglione had tried to kill him, according to a Bureau of Prisons memo in the Epstein Files — but he later recanted the statement and it was chalked up to a suicide attempt.
On Aug. 10, Epstein died in his cell in what was officially ruled a suicide, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.