Paris, France - Modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who was in pretrial detention in Paris in the wake of a human trafficking and underage sex scandal focused on deceased American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead.

The French judiciary had opened investigations into the agent for the rape of minors and for sexual assault. The 76-year-old had been in pretrial detention for more than a year.

Newspaper Le Parisien reported, citing judicial sources, that Brunel was discovered hanged in his cell some time during the night. The French prosecutors’ office confirmed the report and said an inquiry had been opened.

Brunel was suspected of having contacted and organized young girls for Epstein, in addition to several top models who have accused him of assault and rape in the past. Prosecutors had already launched an investigation into Brunel in the summer of 2019 and raided his Paris-based modeling agency.

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Virginia Giuffre, who earlier this week reached an out-of-court settlement for a lawsuit against Prince Andrew after claiming he and Epstein's conspirators sexually trafficked her, weighed in on the news of Brunel's death.

"The suicide of Jean-Luc Brunel, who abused me and countless girls and young women, ends another chapter," she tweeted on Saturday. "I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to face him in a final trial to hold him accountable, but gratified that I was able to testify in person last year to keep him in prison."

Epstein, who killed himself in a New York prison in August 2019, was charged in the US with abusing dozens of underage girls. He was accused of setting up a large sex-trafficking ring with accomplices.

Epstein owned a luxury apartment in Paris near the Champs-Elysees. Brunel, who was one of Epstein's close confidants, was arrested at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport in December 2020 as he was about to leave the country.

In December, a New York court found Epstein's ex-partner Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of also taking part in the operation. The jury decided that Maxwell, as Epstein's aide, had played a central role in setting up Epstein's ring for the sexual abuse of young girls.

The 60-year-old faces several decades in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 28. Her lawyers have requested a retrial.

Brunel can be seen in photographs with Epstein and Maxwell on a private jet in official court documents.

Early indications have pointed to suicide, yet this has not been officially confirmed.

If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for free and confidential support.