New DOJ Files Reveal Guard Googled Jeffrey Epstein Minutes Before His Death, Made $5K Deposit Days Earlier
Newly released Department of Justice (DOJ) records are renewing scrutiny over the night convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein died at a Manhattan federal detention center in August 2019.
The documents show that Tova Noel, a correctional officer assigned to monitor Epstein, conducted online searches about him just minutes before he was found dead, according to multiple reports.
Epstein, 66, was discovered unresponsive in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Noel and fellow officer Michael Thomas had previously been accused of falsifying records to suggest they performed the required 30-minute checks overnight.
Both were later terminated, though prosecutors ultimately declined to pursue criminal charges. according to the New York Post.
FBI forensic analysis shows Noel searched “latest on Epstein in jail” at 5:42 a.m. and again at 5:52 a.m., less than 40 minutes before Thomas reportedly discovered Epstein’s body around 6:30 a.m.
During the same shift, Noel reportedly shopped online while Thomas browsed motorcycles instead of completing the mandated inmate rounds.
In sworn 2021 statements to the DOJ, Noel denied the searches, stating, “I don’t remember doing that,” and challenged the accuracy of the FBI data.
The files also flagged unusual financial activity: Chase Bank reportedly filed a suspicious activity report noting multiple cash deposits in Noel’s account between April 2018 and July 2019, including a $5,000 deposit just 10 days before Epstein’s death.
According to The Sun, investigators said Noel was not questioned about these deposits.
Surveillance footage further raised questions, showing a blurry figure believed to be Noel near Epstein’s cell late on Aug. 9, carrying what appeared to be linens or inmate clothing.
Epstein was later found hanging with strips of orange fabric. Noel denied distributing linens or having any role in the death, Radar Online reported.
Epstein’s death has long drawn controversy due to inconsistencies in timelines, missing camera footage, and repeated security failures at MCC.
The Special Housing Unit, where Epstein was held, had previously experienced broken cameras, understaffing, and lapses in monitoring high-risk inmates.
Prior reports highlighted that MCC had struggled with both staff shortages and procedural noncompliance, raising questions about whether systemic issues contributed to the failure to prevent Epstein’s death.
Critics have also pointed to Epstein’s connections to high-profile figures as a factor that has fueled public skepticism about the circumstances surrounding his death.
The combination of missing footage, inconsistent records, and unanswered questions about staff conduct continues to generate scrutiny from lawmakers and oversight bodies.
“The [guards] had a duty to ensure the safety and security of federal inmates in their care,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman emphasized in 2019. “Instead, they repeatedly failed to conduct mandated checks on inmates, and lied on official forms to hide their dereliction.”
As additional DOJ and House Oversight Committee files are released, investigators continue to probe lapses that contributed to Epstein’s death nearly seven years ago, underscoring ongoing concerns about protocol compliance, staff accountability, and the management of high-risk inmates in federal facilities.
The cash deposits—flagged by Chase Bank to the FBI as suspicious activity—were large unexplained sums (e.g., $5k on July 30, 2019, plus prior totals over $11k) into guard Tova Noel's account right as she started watching Epstein.
Timing + her luxury car + googling "latest on… https://t.co/DU7pmSMwiN
— Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) March 7, 2026
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