Jeffrey Epstein is seen in this handout photo obtained on July 11, 2019 courtesy of the New York State Sex Offender Registry
Jeffrey Epstein is seen in this handout photo obtained on July 11, 2019 courtesy of the New York State Sex Offender Registry New York State Sex Offender Registry / HO

Accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s autopsy reports show that he had multiple broken neck bones, including the horseshoe shaped hyoid bone, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

The Washington Post, which cited two people familiar with the autopsy report, said that Epstein had multiple broken bones in his neck, including the hyoid bone which is close to the Adam’s apple in men. The paper cited forensic experts as saying suicide by hanging can cause the hypoid bone to break in older people but situations are more common in murder by strangulation.

This new detail has set the rumor mills rolling once again. Epstein, who was jailed on federal charges of sex trafficking, was found hanging in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City on Saturday, in an “apparent suicide.” He was in his cell alone, after having been removed from suicide watch.

“If, hypothetically, the hyoid bone is broken, that would generally raise questions about strangulation, but it is not definitive and does not exclude suicidal hanging,” John Arden, President of the National Association of Medical Examiners, told the Post.

The medical examiner who conducted the autopsy has not yet released her report as she is waiting for more information from law enforcement. According to the New York Times, the examiner is confident that Epstein’s death was a case of suicide.

A federal probe has been launched into Epstein’s death. Guards were supposed to check Epstein every thirty minutes as per protocol, but video footages show that two guards who were assigned to him were sleeping at times and didn’t go up to his unit for almost three hours.

Attorney General William Barr acknowledged “serious irregularities” at the prison where Epstein was being held. “We will get to the bottom of what happened. There will be accountability,” Barr said Monday.

The guards apparently falsified the logs to cover up their mistakes. CNN reported that the guards were not talking to investigators and had hired lawyers.

The billionaire’s death has led to many conspiracy theories, with President Donald Trump too sharing some unsubstantiated theories which suggested former President Bill Clinton had something to do with Epstein’s death.

Epstein who was accused of abusing dozens of underage girls in his New York and Florida was awaiting his trial and could have faced up to 45 years in prison.