France Uncovers New Jeffrey Epstein Potential 'Recruiters' After French Modeling Scout Found Dead

France's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein has uncovered the names of new potential recruiters as prosecutors widen their search across France and beyond, with 26 victims now identified in the case.

The development comes after French modelling scout Daniel Siad died at his home near Paris in July while under investigation over his alleged role in helping Epstein recruit women. He died before investigators could formally question him.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau revealed the latest developments on France Inter, saying 13 of the 26 victims identified had not previously appeared in any proceedings connected to the Epstein case.

That makes the latest phase of the French investigation significant for another reason: authorities are not simply revisiting old allegations. They are pursuing new names and examining accounts that had not previously formed part of the French proceedings.

'Dozens and Dozens' of Threads

Beccuau said investigators had obtained the names of other potential recruiters during the investigation, but the people involved have not been publicly identified or charged.

She described the Epstein network as a 'labyrinthine network', saying: 'It's not just a single Ariadne's thread you have to pull on; it's dozens and dozens of threads.'

The prosecutor said the investigation had led authorities towards New York and 'towards Saint-Tropez, towards Cannes'.

Beccuau said eight of the 26 victims still needed to be interviewed, with some living abroad.

The locations underline the international reach investigators are examining, while the new victim accounts could provide further leads into how Epstein's contacts in France allegedly operated.

Daniel Siad Died Before Questioning

Siad, 69, was found dead at his home in Colombes, near Paris, on 20 July 2026.

He had been under investigation in France over his alleged role in helping Epstein recruit women. French authorities had carried out investigative measures, including telephone surveillance, but Siad was never formally questioned before his death.

Siad denied wrongdoing and had indicated that he wanted to give his account of the allegations. His death brought the investigation against him to an end, but it did not stop the wider inquiry into Epstein's alleged network.

A separate investigation examined the circumstances of his death. An autopsy found no signs of violence, while French authorities said he had been in poor health and showed evidence of a previous heart attack that could have posed a risk of sudden death.

Fresh Questions Over the French Investigation

Siad's death has also intensified scrutiny of the pace of the French investigation.

Former model Ebba Karlsson has accused Siad of rape in connection with an alleged incident in Cannes in 1990. She has challenged the French state's handling of her complaint and has taken legal action against the state, while child-protection organisation Innocence En Danger has also sued the French state over alleged failings in the handling of the Epstein investigation.

Those allegations against Siad have not been established in court, and the legal action against the French state remains separate from any finding of criminal liability.

The controversy adds another layer to an investigation that has already faced questions over how quickly authorities pursued allegations connected to Epstein.

13 Victims Absent From Earlier Cases

The most striking figure in the latest announcement may be the 13 victims who had not appeared in previous proceedings.

Beccuau said 26 victims had been identified, with eight still needing to be interviewed. Some of those people live outside France.

The revelation suggests the current French investigation into Jeffrey Epstein is reaching beyond the cases previously associated with French modelling figures.

It also gives prosecutors additional testimony to examine as they trace potential links between France, New York and the Riviera.

The Earlier French Modelling Links

The investigation has renewed attention on Jean-Luc Brunel, the French modelling agent who was accused of procuring women for Epstein. Brunel was arrested in 2020 and died in prison in 2022 before the allegations against him could be tested at trial.

Gérald Marie, the former European head of Elite Model Management, has also faced allegations of rape and sexual assault. A previous French investigation was dropped after authorities determined the alleged offences were outside the applicable limitation period. Marie has denied wrongdoing.

Neither the allegations against Marie nor those previously made against Brunel establish criminal guilt.

France's Epstein Investigation Keeps Expanding

The latest developments leave French prosecutors following multiple strands at once: 26 identified victims, 13 who had not appeared in previous proceedings, and new potential recruiters whose identities have not been publicly disclosed.

The trail now stretches from France to New York and across the Riviera.

For Beccuau, there is no single thread to pull. There are 'dozens and dozens' of them, and investigators are still working to establish where they lead.