A woman who accused disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein of raping her when she was 15 said Saturday that officials must continue pursuing his associates in an alleged sex-trafficking ring following reports of his apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail.
Jennifer Araoz told CNN in a statement that Epstein’s suicide made her “angry,” as he will no longer have to face his accusers in court, and said federal authorities must continue to pursue those who may have aided Epstein in his alleged activities.
“I am angry Jeffrey Epstein won’t have to face his survivors of his abuse in court,” Araoz said. “Epstein is gone, but justice must still be served. I hope the authorities will pursue and prosecute his accomplices and enablers, and ensure redress for his victims.”
{mosads}Epstein, 66, was reportedly discovered dead in his jail cell about 7:30 a.m., according to authorities. Law enforcement officials said he died by apparent suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
The billionaire financier had been on suicide watch since late July, according to ABC, when he was found unconscious in his jail cell with injuries to his neck.
The Department of Justice said in a news release Saturday that the FBI would investigate the “apparent suicide” of Epstein in his Manhattan jail cell.
His death came a day after court documents made public revealed that a woman testified in 2016 that Epstein had sent her, while she was underage, to perform sexual acts with former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and former Sen. George Mitchell (D-Maine), allegations the two men deny.
Araoz previously told NBC News that she was recruited outside a high school when she was 14 years old before she says she was raped a year later.
Epstein, who was indicted on sex trafficking charges, faced accusations from more than 30 women who alleged that he sexually assaulted them. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from underage girls, with then-U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta approving a plea deal that enabled him to serve 13 months in “custody with work release.” The deal also let Epstein spend 12 hours a day outside of prison.