A mysterious orange figure captured on surveillance footage ascending the stairwell near Jeffrey Epstein’s prison cell the night he died is now drawing renewed scrutiny from forensic experts — some of whom suggest it may have been a jumpsuit-clad inmate, not a corrections officer as the federal government previously claimed.
The video, obtained and reviewed by CBS News, shows a pixelated orange object moving toward Epstein’s cell block at around 10:40 p.m. on August 9, 2019, the night before Epstein was found dead.
Government Claims: “Just Linen or Clothing”
Federal investigators originally dismissed the orange shape as a staff member carrying laundry or inmate clothing. But independent forensic analysts are raising doubts.
“Based on the limited video, it’s more likely a person in an [orange] uniform,” said Conor McCourt, a retired NYPD sergeant and forensic video expert.
Other experts agreed, raising fresh questions about who — or what — was moving near Epstein’s cell in his final hours.
Surveillance Footage Raises More Questions Than Answers
Several critical flaws in the video were identified by CBS News and independent analysts:
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The staircase near Epstein’s cell is mostly out of view.
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Epstein’s cell door is not visible at all in the footage.
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The recording appears to be a screen capture, not raw footage — evident from an on-screen cursor and visible menu bars.
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A minute of video is missing, jumping forward just before midnight.
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The video’s aspect ratio suddenly shifts, further suggesting tampering or conversion.
“To say that there’s no way someone could get up to that room without being seen is false,” said Jim Safford, another forensic video expert. His view is echoed by four other experts consulted by CBS.
Watch:
Strange orange figure was the last movement near Epstein’s cell the night he died
The organge figure remains unidentified https://t.co/gpoEAF94QP pic.twitter.com/wzRqfO38Wj
— Red Panda Koala (@RedPandaKoala) July 30, 2025
DOJ, FBI, and Inspector General Stand By Suicide Ruling
Despite the concerns, the Department of Justice, FBI, and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are standing by their conclusion that Epstein died by suicide.
“Nothing in [CBS’s] analysis changed or modified the OIG’s conclusions,” a DOJ spokesperson told the outlet.
The DOJ blamed Epstein’s death on a chronic staffing crisis, inadequate surveillance, and systemic failures at the Bureau of Prisons — but rejected theories of foul play.
No “Client List,” No New Charges
The DOJ also reiterated that its multi-year investigation found no credible evidence of an Epstein “client list” or co-conspirators who could still face charges.
This has reignited public frustration, with many continuing to believe that powerful figures connected to Epstein have escaped scrutiny.
Renewed Attention: Maxwell, Trump, and the Final Days
Just last week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell for two days of questioning. Her legal team is publicly seeking a pardon or sentence commutation from President Trump, who has called for the country to move on from the Epstein saga.
Maxwell is currently serving 20 years in federal prison.
