Inmate says guards shouted ‘breathe!’ near Epstein’s cell before ‘cover-up’ talk: FBI notes

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Questions surrounding the death of Jeffrey Epstein in federal custody have resurfaced after an inmate claimed he overheard correctional officers shouting in the unit.

The inmate was housed near Epstein inside the Special Housing Unit at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. 

Inmate recalls chaos in Jeffrey Epstein jail unit

According to FBI interview notes reviewed by the Miami Herald, the inmate said he woke up around 6:30 am on August 10, 2019, after hearing a loud commotion in the jail wing.

The inmate told investigators that several officers appeared to be shouting while trying to get someone to respond. He recalled hearing guards yell, “Breathe! Breathe!” during the disturbance. A short time later, he said a male officer could be heard saying, “Dudes, you killed that dude.”

According to the inmate’s account, a female guard then responded with another statement that caught everyone’s attention. “If he is dead, we're going to cover it up, and he's going to have an alibi, my officers,” the inmate said he heard.

He told investigators that the exchange was loud enough for people across the housing wing to hear it.

Inmate names Tova Noel in Epstein jail claims

The inmate later claimed that after news spread about Jeffrey Epstein’s death, people inside the unit began discussing what might have happened. According to the FBI notes, he said some inmates started saying “Miss Noel killed Jeffrey.”

The inmate identified the officer he believed made the comment about a cover-up as Tova Noel. Noel was one of two correctional officers later charged with falsifying records. Investigators said the officers had logged required checks in the housing unit even though those rounds were not completed.

Those charges were later dropped, and both officers were eventually fired from their jobs. 

Authorities have not confirmed the inmate’s account, and investigators have not said that Tova Noel or any other officer caused Jeffrey Epstein’s death.

Investigators find no evidence in Jeffrey Epstein death

The inmate’s allegation adds another layer to a case that has already faced intense scrutiny. However, investigators said the claim was not supported by other evidence collected during the inquiry.

According to the Justice Department’s inspector general, the FBI reviewed the circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s death and did not find criminal wrongdoing connected to the incident.

Several inmates housed in nearby cells were interviewed during the investigation. Officials said none of them provided information suggesting outside involvement.

The report also noted that three inmates with a direct line of sight to Jeffrey Epstein’s cell door told investigators they did not see anyone enter or leave the cell area after he had been locked in for the night.

Report details jail failures in Epstein case

Although the investigation did not find evidence supporting claims of wrongdoing, the inspector general’s report documented serious problems inside the jail that night.

The review found multiple failures at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, including missed security checks, staffing shortages, and records later found to be inaccurate.

Those problems have continued to fuel public debate about how the events unfolded.

The New York medical examiner conducted an examination after Epstein’s death, while forensic pathologist Michael Baden, who was hired by Epstein’s estate, publicly raised questions about the findings.

The inmate’s claim does not settle that debate. There is also no public record showing that Tova Noel or any other correctional officer was responsible for Epstein’s death.

Even so, the allegation has once again drawn attention to the case and the failures inside the jail that night