On August 10, 2019, Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide at the Metropolitan Correction Center in New York, where he was awaiting trial on charges related to sex trafficking. This event, shocking and significant in its own right, has since become a fertile ground for a myriad of conspiracy theories.

Following the recent release of three million files by the Department of Justice concerning the late financier, the internet has become a breeding ground for increasingly outlandish speculations. Many online communities, fascinated by conspiracy theories, have latched onto the notion that Epstein might actually be alive, leading to a flurry of alleged sightings from around the globe.

One particular theory, which gained traction on social media, incorrectly claimed that a Fortnite gaming account belonged to Epstein and had been active recently. This notion has been thoroughly debunked, yet it highlights the extent to which misinformation can spread in the digital age.

Adding fuel to the fire, an image purportedly showing a man with long gray hair walking down a street in Israel was circulated widely. The image, however, was confirmed to be AI-generated, further illustrating the challenges of distinguishing fact from fiction in the current media landscape.

Among the more extreme narratives gaining traction on platforms such as X is the suggestion that Epstein was somehow swapped out of prison before his death and replaced with a body double. This theory goes on to claim that he is now being held at Guantanamo Bay, providing intelligence on foreign nations. While these ideas capture the imagination of some, they remain unsubstantiated and highlight the continuing intrigue that surrounds Epstein’s life and death.

Among the more extreme suggestions being spread on X is one that Epstein was ‘swapped’ out of prison and replaced with a cadaver, and that he is currently in Guantanamo Bay being interrogated for any intelligence he had on foreign nations.

There has also been much social media scrutiny of an image from the night he died in jail, showing a blurry ‘orange flash’ heading upstairs toward his cell.

Epstein took his own life on August 10, 2019 at the Metropolitan Correction Center in New York while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, but conspiracy theories are growing

The public appetite for such Epstein conspiracy theories was evident in a poll taken on X by Republican congressman Thomas Massie following the latest release of files by the DOJ.

A total of 147,000 took part in Massie’s poll, with 46 percent answering that Epstein was ‘still alive,’ while another 33 percent thought he was murdered, and only 3 percent thought he took his own life.

One conspiracy theory, which is false, that has spread widely on X in recent days, centers on the Fortnite video game.

It started when internet sleuths found Epstein’s YouTube username – ‘littlestjeff1’ – in the DOJ files.

There was also an email in the files referring to $25.95 paid for ‘VBucks on Fortnite.’

However, the names of both the sender and recipient of that message, on May 7, 2019, were redacted.

That means neither was Epstein himself because his email addresses are unredacted in the files.

Therefore, there is no indication he ever played Fortnite.

A bizarre conspiracy theory swept the internet that Epstein was alive and playing Fortnite  

Epstein’s cell after he hanged himself at the Metropolitan Correction Center in New York in 2019 

However, an erroneous connection was made by X users to a ‘littlestjeff1’ username listed on Fortnite Tracker, a third-party app which tracks the statistics of players.

Fortnite players discussing the development on X noticed that account had been used in Israel less than a week ago and had an Israeli flag on the profile.

Wild speculation that it could be Epstein was spread on social media by accounts with millions of followers.

The Fortnite account was then switched to private, sparking even more speculation.

Ultimately, Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, became involved and confirmed on X that it was another player using the name.

In a statement the gaming giant said: ‘This was a ruse by a Fortnite player. A few days ago, an existing Fortnite account owner changed their username from something totally unrelated to littlestjeff1, following the revelation of littlestjeff1 as a name on YouTube. These Fortnite trackers only display your current name, not any prior changes to it.’

It added: ‘We have no record of the subject’s email addresses referenced in the public document existing in the Epic account system.

Since the public document releases, people have created Fortnite accounts with similar-looking email addresses and user names.’

Meanwhile, the DOJ files revealed that investigators believe a prisoner may have had access to the area where Epstein was locked up on the night of his death in prison.

Investigators from the FBI and the DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) flagged that CCTV footage from inside the Metropolitan Correctional Centre appeared to show an ‘orange flash’ on the stairs.

An ‘orange flash’ could be seen moving up the stairs to Epstein’s cell block at the New York prison at around 10.40pm the night before he was found dead

A piece of fabric used as a noose by Epstein on the night of this death 

It may have been ‘an inmate’ walking up to the floor the notorious pedophile was being held on, the documents said.

Epstein was found dead at 6.30am on August 10, 2019 by a corrections officer delivering his breakfast.

No official time of death was determined.

The report, from the OIG, noted that at 10.39pm on August 9, 2019, FBI agents observed that ‘a flash of orange looks to be going up the L Tier stairs – could possibly be an inmate escorted up to that Tier.’

File released by the DOJ included numerous disturbing images of Epstein with young women

But the inspector general appeared to draw a different conclusion to the FBI, writing of the flash of orange: ‘Inmates are currently on lockdown, it is possible someone is carrying inmate linen or bedding up.’

The newly revealed FBI analysis contradicts public statements made at the time.

The final report by the Inspector General stated: ‘At approximately 10:39 p.m., an unidentified CO (corrections officer) appeared to walk up the L Tier stairway, and then reappeared within view of the camera at 10:41 p.m.’