Guard Googled Epstein Minutes Before He Was Found Dead, DOJ Documents Show

Guard Googled Epstein Minutes Before He Was Found Dead, DOJ Documents Show

DOJ Documents Detail Guard's Internet Searches and Bank Deposits

Documents released by the Department of Justice on Thursday, March 6, 2026, show that a guard assigned to Jeffrey Epstein's cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan conducted internet searches about Epstein approximately 40 minutes before he was found dead.

Tova Noel, 37, was one of two correctional officers charged with overseeing Epstein's jail cell in the days leading up to his death. Her coworker, Michael Thomas, discovered Epstein dead in his cell by hanging at 6:30 a.m. on August 10, 2019.

Internet Search Records

According to the DOJ documents, first reported by the NYPost, Noel conducted a Google search for "latest on epstein in jail" at 5:42 a.m. and 5:52 a.m. on August 10, 2019.

The documents show the Epstein-related entries appeared alongside searches on two other inmates held at the facility — Kenyatta Taiste and Omar Amanat — as well as searches for "law enforcement discounts" at 6:17 a.m. and 6:19 a.m.

Noel denied Googling Epstein when questioned in 2021. She stated: "I don't remember doing that."

Cash Deposits

The documents also revealed a $5,000 cash deposit into Noel's bank account on July 30, 2019 — ten days before Epstein was found dead.

Approximately 12 deposits were made in total dating from December 2018, totaling $11,880.

The released information does not assume any guilt in connection to Epstein's death.

Events on the Night of August 9–10, 2019

Noel was believed to have been the last correctional officer to visit the Special Housing Unit (SHU) on the night prior to Epstein's death.

An internal FBI briefing stated that at approximately 10:40 p.m. an officer, believed to be Noel, "carried linen or inmate clothing up to the L-Tier." This was allegedly the "last time any correctional officer approached the only entrance to the SHU tier," according to the briefing.

The New York City Chief Medical Examiner found at the time that Epstein hanged himself with strips of orange cloth.

Noel's Sworn Statement

Noel stated in a sworn statement that she had last seen Epstein alive "somewhere around after ten." She said she "never gave out linen, ever" or any clothing. She claimed those responsibilities were handled during the prior shift.

Noel told investigators she did not know why Epstein had access to extra linen in his cell. She stated the other guard had been asleep between 10 p.m. and midnight.

According to her statement, neglecting to conduct rounds in the SHU was a common practice at the facility. "I've never worked in the Special Housing Unit and actually done rounds every 30 minutes," she told investigators, according to the documents.

Prior Charges and Termination

Both Noel and Thomas were fired from the Metropolitan Correctional Center. They had been accused of falsifying records that indicated the pair had checked on Epstein in his cell during the night.

Noel was previously charged with falsifying records. Charges against both guards were dropped.

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Source

Reported by Lauren Acton-Taylor for Mail Online. Read original article.