Jean-Luc Brunel | |
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![]() Brunel in 2001 | |
Born | Jean-Luc Didier Henri Brunel 18 September 1946 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France |
Died | 19 February 2022 La Santé Prison, Paris, France | (aged 75)
Cause of death | Suicide by hanging |
Nationality | French |
Other names | "Le fantôme" (lit. 'The ghost') |
Occupation | Model scout |
Years active | 1970s–2019 |
Known for | Former head of Karin Models and MC2 Model Management |
Jean-Luc Didier Henri Brunel (18 September 1946 – 19 February 2022) was a French model scout. He gained prominence by leading the international modelling agency Karin Models, and founded MC2 Model Management, with financing by Jeffrey Epstein.[1] The subject of a 60 Minutes investigation in 1988, Brunel faced allegations of sexual assault spanning three decades.[2][3]
Brunel came under scrutiny for his ties to Epstein, with whom he worked from the early 2000s to 2015.[4] Brunel was accused of grooming young females and of partaking in the alleged sex trafficking ring run by Epstein.[5] In 2019, French National Police launched an investigation on Brunel after he went into hiding following Epstein's death.[5] He was arrested on 16 December 2020, and charged with the rape of minors by French prosecutors.[6] However, he died from an apparent suicide before his trial could proceed.[7]
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