Control, threats, disfiguring surgery: My life inside Jeffrey Epstein's 'cult'

What the report says

BBC News Investigations reported on 18 July 2026 that a woman identified by the pseudonym “Anya” has given a rare account of life among Jeffrey Epstein’s so-called “assistants”, a group she said were housed by the financier, kept on call and sexually abused. Anya told the BBC she lived for years in a Manhattan flat on East 66th Street used by Epstein to house women he abused, and said she was told to leave by Epstein’s brother Mark shortly after Epstein died in 2019. Mark Epstein denies knowing about his brother’s wrongdoing.

According to the BBC, Anya said Epstein drew her in through promises of modelling opportunities after she met modelling scout Daniel Siad in Paris. She alleged Epstein questioned her about her ambitions and vulnerabilities, monitored her body, demanded images, and later used criticism and false promises to deepen control. Siad’s name appears frequently in released Epstein files, the BBC reported; his lawyer said he was unavailable for comment, and Siad has previously denied knowing the danger Epstein posed.

Anya alleged Epstein sexually assaulted her in Palm Beach, Florida, while he was serving his 2008 sentence on day release. She told the BBC she later concluded, after reviewing released files, that a promised agency opportunity had been deceptive and part of a long grooming process.

The BBC said Anya’s description of coercive control was echoed by Sarah Kellen, another former assistant, in testimony to the US House Oversight Committee. The report also cited clinical psychologist Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo, who noted that adults as well as children can be groomed. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.