French modelling agent who founded agency with Epstein dies in custody

(FILES) This file photo taken on September 10, 2014 shows the Sante prison in Paris. - Former French model agent Jean-Luc Brunel, accused of rape by several former models, was found hanged in his cell in Paris' Sante prison during the night of February 18, 2022, AFP reports. (Photo by Joël SAGET / AFP)

PARIS (Reuters) - Jean-Luc Brunel, a longtime French modeling agent who was detained in December 2020 as part of an inquiry into allegations of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment, was found dead in his cell on Saturday, the Paris prosecutor's office said.

The investigation, opened in August 2019, was a preliminary inquiry into whether late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had committed sex crimes on French territory or against French victims.