Epstein is being held as he awaits trial for sex trafficking charges.
Epstein was found with marks on his neck indicating he'd done the damage himself, the source said.
After a medical evaluation, Epstein was placed on suicide watch.
![A protest group called "Hot Mess" hold up signs of Jeffrey Epstein in front of the Federal courthouse in the Manhattan borough of New York City on July 8, 2019. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2Fexternal%2F2019%2F07%2Fepstein-protest-1200x801.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
The Bureau of Prisons, which oversees the center, is probing what happened and officials consider it a possible suicide attempt, the source told ABC.
“Jeffrey Epstein is currently housed at MCC New York and not in a local hospital as has been reported,” the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement on July 25. “As with all inmates, for privacy and security reasons, we do not share information on an inmate’s medical status or their conditions of confinement.”
Epstein was arrested on July 6 after landing in New Jersey on a flight from Paris.
Prosecutors said Epstein “caused to be enticed and recruited minor girls to visit“ his properties ”to engage in sex acts with him, after which he would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash.”
![A residence of financier Jeffrey Epstein is shown in Palm Beach, Fla., on March 14, 2014. (Joe Skipper/File Photo via Reuters)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2Fexternal%2F2019%2F07%2Fepstein-house-1200x761.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
“Moreover, and in order to maintain and increase his supply of victims, Epstein also paid certain of his victims to recruit additional girls to be similarly abused,” authorities wrote in an indictment. “In this way, Epstein created a vast network of underage victims for him to sexually exploit in locations including New York and Palm Beach.”
Many of the girls were minors—some as young as 14—and Epstein was aware of their ages, according to authorities.
“The alleged behavior shocks the conscience,” Berman said, noting that the alleged crimes were committed a number of years ago but saying the victims are still affected by what happened. “We are proud to be standing up for them by unveiling this indictment,” he added.
“The government has established a danger to others and the community by clear and convincing evidence,” said U.S. District Judge Richard Berman.
One of the victims, Annie Farmer, made her case in a trembling voice on July 15. Farmer said Epstein was “inappropriate” with her when she was 16 years old. She argued that Epstein posed an “extraordinary risk of flight” and that he was dangerous.
The other victim, Courtney Wild, told Berman she was sexually abused by Epstein when she was 14 years old in Palm Beach. “He’s a scary person,” Wild said, adding that he shouldn’t be allowed to walk freely on the streets.