Inmate Account In Newly Released FBI Files Alleges Prison Guard "Cover-Up" Following Epstein Death

Newly released FBI report details inmate's claim of hearing guards discuss a "cover-up" and "alibi" after Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in NYC jail.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 9:10 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from FBI investigative files and Department of Justice documents released in March 2026.

Witness Account: "You Killed That Dude"

According to a five-page handwritten FBI interview report recently released to the public, an inmate housed in the Special Housing Unit (SHU) was awakened at 6:30 a.m. on August 10, 2019, by a loud commotion. The inmate reported hearing frantic shouts of "Breathe! Breathe!" as staff attempted to revive Jeffrey Epstein. Following the failed resuscitation attempt, the inmate claims he heard one officer say to a colleague, "Dudes, you killed that dude."

Alleged Cover-Up and Alibi

The witness identified a female voice in the immediate aftermath as Tova Noel, 37, one of the two guards assigned to the unit. The report states the woman snapped, "If he's dead, we're going to cover it up and he's going to have an alibi my officers." While Noel and her colleague Michael Thomas were later charged with falsifying records admitting they slept and browsed the internet instead of making rounds the criminal charges were eventually dropped in 2021 after they completed community service.

Suspicious Digital and Financial Activity

The released files further highlight digital forensic evidence that Noel conducted Google searches for "latest on epstein in jail" at 5:42 a.m. and 5:52 a.m., approximately 40 minutes before Epstein was officially found. Additionally, bank records revealed that a $5,000 cash deposit was made into Noel’s account just ten days before Epstein’s death. Investigators also noted that Noel, who was reportedly making payments on a new Land Rover Range Rover at the time, was never questioned about these specific cash deposits during her Department of Justice interviews.