Inside The OIG Interview: MCC Captain's Statement Detailing The Death Of Jeffrey Epstein (Part 8) (3/29/26) - The Epstein Chronicles

Podcast Summary: The Epstein Chronicles Episode: Inside The OIG Interview: MCC Captain's Statement Detailing The Death Of Jeffrey Epstein (Part 8) Date: March 29, 2026 Host: Bobby Capucci

Episode Overview

This episode delves deep into the OIG (Office of Inspector General) interview with an unnamed MCC (Metropolitan Correctional Center) captain regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s final days in custody. The conversation focuses specifically on staff assignments, communication failures, and breakdowns in procedures that were supposed to ensure Epstein’s safety, particularly as they relate to Epstein’s cellmate being removed and not replaced. Host Bobby Capucci methodically walks listeners through the interview transcript, shedding light on the confusion, miscommunication, and administrative oversights that played a critical role leading up to Epstein’s death.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Staff Assignments and Duty Shifts

The captain explains the assignment of staff to the Special Housing Unit (SHU), where Epstein was housed, noting which officers and shifts (6–2, 8–4, etc.) were responsible during relevant times.
There is difficulty in recalling exactly who was present and spoken to, as many staff members are referenced only as "redacted" due to privacy in the interview transcripts.
Notable Quote (Captain): "I know I spoke to different guys. The shoe staff that was always up there." [03:00]

2. Lack of Cellmate for Epstein

The key operational concern discussed is Epstein's lack of a cellmate after his original was moved for a court appointment.
The captain acknowledges that staff should have known that a cellmate was required but clarifies that this knowledge may not have been efficiently communicated during shift changes.
Notable Quote (Captain): "No one later informed me that the inmate had even went to court. I didn’t even know he went to court because guess what? During the time this inmate is in court, Epstein is in attorney visiting all day." [06:33]

3. Procedural Breakdowns and Missed Communications

When discussing what should have happened, the captain admits: "He should have notified me... Hey, Cap. Hey, Reyes, Epstein’s cellmate… he went to court. He’s not coming back. And he did not." [06:55]
The interviewer and captain both emphasize that knowing an inmate was missing from the cell required active staff oversight, especially at "the four count," the 4 PM headcount where all inmates' locations need to be confirmed.
Notable Quote (Captain): "If you’re walking and you’re doing rounds in the unit, you would see especially at the four count… Where’s Reyes? Reyes is out to court. Then somebody should have called R&D… so the lieutenant would have been notified because you can’t clear the count. Where’s the inmate at?" [12:45]

4. Administrative Culture and Shift Flexibility

The captain notes that allowing lieutenants flexible shifts due to long commutes was a holdover from previous administrations. This flexibility, while intended as an incentive, may have contributed to inconsistencies in oversight and communication.
Notable Quote (Captain): "That was a common practice in Brooklyn... the captain would allow them, when I was the lieutenant would allow for us, you know, to work those shifts. And due to... staff that commute far out. So that was just an incentive to get these guys to come to work." [05:05]

5. Critical Moment - Responsibility for Noticing Epstein Was Alone

The captain is pressed to identify who exactly should have noticed Epstein no longer had a cellmate and should have acted. The consensus is that by the 4 PM count, it should have been clear, yet there was no communication.
Notable Quote (Captain): "You believe that the SHU should have known by 4 PM during the 4 PM count? ...Yeah." [14:02]

6. Systemic Issues and Processes

When asked, the captain affirms that sometimes counts are not properly done, and unless there’s a headcount, staff could miss the fact that an inmate hasn't returned from court.
Notable Quote (Captain): "If you didn’t do a 4 PM count, so let’s just say in this instance that they didn’t do a 4PM count... nobody would know. So unless they do the count, they don’t even know that the guy is not coming back." [14:35]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"No one later informed me that the inmate had even went to court. I didn’t even know he went to court because guess what? During the time this inmate is in court, Epstein is in attorney visiting all day." — MCC Captain [06:33]
"He should have notified me... Hey, Cap. Hey, Reyes, Epstein’s cellmate… he went to court. He’s not coming back. And he did not." — MCC Captain [06:55]
"If you’re walking and you’re doing rounds in the unit, you would see especially at the four count… So at the four count… someone should have called R&D. That means the lieutenant would have been notified because you can’t clear the count. Where’s the inmate?" — MCC Captain [12:45]
"If you didn’t do a 4PM count... nobody would know. So unless they do the count, they don’t even know that the guy is not coming back." — MCC Captain [14:35]

Important Timestamps

[03:00]: Recollection of staff assignments and general process for SHU coverage.
[05:05]: Discussion of shift flexibility for commuting lieutenants.
[06:33 – 06:55]: Captain admits breakdown in communication about cellmate status.
[12:45 – 14:02]: Four count procedure and who had responsibility for noticing an empty cell.
[14:35]: Admission that no count means no awareness of missing inmate.

Tone & Language

The tone throughout the episode is straightforward and procedural, with both the host and the interview transcript reflecting a matter-of-fact exploration into the administrative details surrounding Epstein’s death. The captain is candid about limitations in his memory and the barriers created by staff assignment policies and communication lapses.

Summary

This episode provides a granular behind-the-scenes look at how confusion and a lack of oversight at MCC contributed to Jeffrey Epstein being left alone in his cell, defying security protocols. Through careful review of the OIG interview, the podcast highlights a systemic pattern of miscommunication and procedural lapses, painting a complex portrait of institutional failures during a critical window in one of the most controversial deaths in recent memory.

For more details and related documents, listeners are encouraged to check the episode description.

Transcript

A (0:00)

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C (0:45)

Casino what's up everyone and welcome to another episode of the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode we're going to pick up where we left off with the unnamed captain from the MCC and his interview with with the OIG investigators. Question all right, Inmates, cellmates and are typically the people that are assigned to the shoe. Are they in those three shifts or would you have hit the people that are assigned between that time period? So point being, maybe you don't remember specifically I had a conversation with that person. Or that person. Or that person. But if they're assigned to the shoe, not a temporary duty assignment like an OT type of assignment, but the people that were assigned there, that was their duty too. He cuts them off and answers so like I remember specifically I hit day watch. Redacted. I remember Redacted. Whatever his name, I remember these guys. I know I spoke to Redacted. I know I spoke to different guys. The shoe staff that was always up there. Question but you just don't specifically remember talking to Noel. Answer no. Question okay. Answer. She might have been in the background somewhere. Question Right. Answer she could have been there. I don't know. Question. But redacted. Should have spoken with her. Answer of course. Question okay, Answer. Because that's part of. That's part of the expectations of the unit. If I give you guidance, your guidance should have been disseminated down to the officers. Okay, how about the people? So we were going to get into this later, but since we're conversing about it now, it looks like Reyes was moved. I think his appointment with court was at like 8:30 and he was gone from the institution by like 150. Does that sound right? Answer Something like that. It could have been. Question so who was in the shoe at that time, if he's gone from the institution by like 1:50pm who would have he gets cut off? Answer so that would have been all of your six to two and your eight to four staff. Question okay, so I guess let's go from the top. Who would have been the person in charge at the top level? Answer that. I mean as far as that would have been chew one because he would have gotten the notice that he was supposed to move the guys. Question and who was that? Answer and move the inmate. Question and who was that? Answer it was redacted Question and what time was he working from? Answer he was working from 8 to 4. Question so he was 8 to 4 and those times are accurate on there. And if some lieutenant said oh we, you know, it says 0 to 8, but we're actually 10pm gets cut off. Answer and that's true. But the officers work those prescribed shifts. Question okay, Answer the lieutenant was given those shifts because of their commutes. Question okay, Answer Some of them were commuting two hours out. So for them to come from various parts of Jersey or Long island, you know, as a consensus, we said, hey, I will continue because that was the previous administration, the previous captain put that in for those guys. So, you know, with those conversations, you know, with the lieutenants, I said I'll keep that. I said, you know, you try to do things where I come from, where we didn't do those things, you know, as far as that, you know, the captain ran his shifts. Whatever the shift was, you did it. But when I came to Brooklyn, that was a common practice in Brooklyn. You know, the captain would allow them, when I was the lieutenant would allow for us, you know, to work those shifts. And due to we've got a staff that commute far out. So that was just an incentive to get these guys to come to work, you know. Question sure. Answer so yes. Question but the times for these, the shoe staff, that's the actual hours that listed on that Answer but for the line staff, the line staff, that roster correctly imitates their schedule. Question Perfect. So who then I guess you said they would be working until 4pm Answer right. Question so they would have at least two hours to be able to do something. Answer Right. Question and who was it that was on that day? Answer so I had redacted, I had redacted, I had redacted and I had redacted. Question and did you speak with all of those individuals about the need for a cellmate? Answer I believe I did because they were day watch, but like I said it wouldn't have been on August 9th. Question right. Answer it would have been on the unit. Question okay. Answer for that quarter. So once I got the guidance from redacted of what he wanted me to do, I moved on and did it. So I can't tell you, but I know I spoke the day watch shoe staff. Question sure. Answer they was the first ones I spoke to. Question so who then out of there, who would have the shoe staff reported the matter to? Answer the what now? Question so the shoe staff that's in there, they know that he doesn't have a cellmate and the cellmate is not coming back. Answer okay, so they would have known that he wasn't coming back until probably evening watch. Question okay, so you don't think that those guys would have known? Answer no, they wouldn't have known because I don't know when the inmate left the institution. But what happens is when the court line comes out, I believe that the inmates leave the institution. Supposed to between six and eight or seven, you know, let's say seven to nine. So between that time, those inmates are. They're picked up and then they're transported to a court. Question okay, so what time did redacted work? What was his shift? Answer redacted was 8 to 4. So if we can, let's assume for this instance that redacted knows that he needs a cellmate, right? Question what should he have done? Probably wouldn't have known. But let's just say for this instance that he did know. So if he knew, he knew that he needed a cellmate and he knew that the cellmate wasn't coming back, he probably wouldn't. But what I'm trying to tell you, sir, he probably wouldn't have known. Question I know, but in this instance, I'm just saying. Let's just say that he did. Answer okay, so the instance of that would have happened. What would have happened was he should have, okay, this guy is not coming. He should have notified me. Question okay, answer and should have been like, hey, Cap. Hey, Reyes, Epstein's cellmate. Hey, he went to court. He's not coming back. Question and he did not. Answer no. Question okay. Answer no one later informed me that the inmate had even went to court. I didn't even know he went to the court because guess what? During the time this inmate is in court, Epstein is an attorney visiting all day. Question sure. Answer so nobody would have even thought about it because, oh, Epstein is in the attorney visiting. His cellmate is not in there. Okay, his cellmate went to court, nobody would have been made aware that he didn't have a cellie until they went to put him in physically inside of the cell. Question okay, so when do you think it would have been in this instance? When do you think it would have come up? Answer as far as knowing he didn't have a cellie? Question Correct Answer Somebody should have known when he didn't come. That should have been on evening watch.