Handwritten Jeffrey Epstein Suicide Note Discovered Hidden in Sealed 2026 Court Filings

A hidden Jeffrey Epstein suicide note has been discovered in court files. Handwriting experts verified the document, which says "Time to say goodbye."

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 3:23 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The New York Times and Anadolu Agency

The Discovery Inside a Graphic Novel

A handwritten document attributed to Jeffrey Epstein has resurfaced as part of a legal dispute that has remained hidden from public view since 2019. According to reports from the New York Times, the note was originally discovered by Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer and Epstein’s cellmate at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Tartaglione stated in a series of recorded interviews that he found the message tucked inside a graphic novel shortly after Epstein’s initial suicide attempt in July 2019. The note reportedly contains a defiant message claiming that investigators had scrutinized Epstein's life for months and "found nothing," concluding with the final phrase: "Time to say goodbye."

Handwriting Authentication and Legal Deadlock

The authenticity of the note has been a central point of contention in federal court. Tartaglione’s legal team reportedly hired independent handwriting experts who verified that the script matches known samples of Epstein’s writing before the document was surrendered to a federal judge under seal. Despite its potential significance to the official investigation into Epstein’s death, the note was never included in the Department of Justice’s 2023 Inspector General report. A spokesperson for the Justice Department recently confirmed that the agency has never seen the document, as it became entangled in a complex dispute over attorney-client privilege that prevented its transfer to federal investigators.

Transparency Laws Force New Disclosures

The push to unseal the document follows the passage of the Jeffrey Epstein Transparency Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on November 19, 2025. This legislation mandates the release of all government records related to the Epstein investigation, leading to the disclosure of over 3.5 million pages of documents over the last several months. However, legal representatives for Epstein’s victims and several members of Congress have argued that the most critical evidence remains locked behind judicial seals. The New York Times petition argues that the public interest in the circumstances of Epstein's death and his potential co-conspirators outweighs any remaining claims of privilege.