New York (AFP)

The autopsy of the body of financier Jeffrey Epstein showed that he had broken neck bones, some media said Thursday, but the New York medical examiner warned against any hasty conclusion.

According to anonymous sources quoted by The Washington Post and the New York Times, the autopsy of the 66-year-old financier, found dead in his cell in Manhattan on Saturday morning, revealed a fractured hyoid bone, close to the apple of 'Adam.

According to experts quoted by these media, such a fracture would be consistent with a hanging suicide, especially in older people like Mr. Epstein, or with strangulation.

So this does not confirm whether the fund manager committed suicide.

The New York Medical Examiner's Office has not confirmed any of this information, cautioning against any hasty interpretation.

"In all judicial investigations, all information must be synthesized to determine the cause and the manner in which the death occurred," he said in a statement. "Everything must be coherent, no element can be evaluated alone".

The official conclusions of this autopsy are eagerly awaited.

The death of the financier, incarcerated in this prison deemed particularly safe after being accused of having organized a vast network of minors which he abused sexually, raised questions and conspiracy theories, relayed on social networks including Donald Trump.

Many have hinted that he was murdered to protect people from power he knew.

New York's Chief Medical Examiner, Barbara Sampson, said Saturday that the autopsy was over, but she was waiting for "more information" before she could announce any results.

US Justice Minister William Barr, who called Epstein's death "apparent suicide" on Saturday, has conducted two investigations and denounced "serious irregularities" in the prison.

He announced Tuesday the suspension of the two guards who had to watch over Epstein and the temporary transfer of the director of the prison, without specifying the nature of the irregularities.

According to New York Times sources, they would have slept for nearly three hours that night, when they were supposed to do rounds every 30 minutes.

Two Republican senators, Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson, on Thursday urged Barr to release the results of his investigation as soon as possible, demanding "complete transparency".

cat / seb

© 2019 AFP