Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice in the case of Jeffrey Epstein have once again drawn attention to events that took place on his private island, Little St. James, in the Caribbean. Among millions of declassified files, journalists discovered information regarding large industrial-grade orders of sulfuric acid.
According to the documents, in December 2018, LSJE LLC, a company linked to Epstein, ordered six 55-gallon drums of sulfuric acid – totaling approximately 1250 liters. The cost, including fuel and insurance, was nearly $5,000 USD. Delivery was scheduled directly to the island.
Notably, the date of the order – December 6, 2018 – coincided with the day the Federal Bureau of Investigation officially launched an investigation into Epstein for sex trafficking of minors. This fact is confirmed by internal FBI correspondence also published by the Department of Justice.
Following the release of the documents, social media users actively discussed the potential reasons for such a large-scale chemical purchase. Some speculated that the sulfuric acid could have been used to destroy evidence. These theories have circulated widely, but remain unconfirmed.
The published data set reveals that sulfuric acid is mentioned in at least 26 documents, most of which relate to the technical needs of the island. Specifically, the chemical was used in the servicing of a reverse osmosis system – a seawater desalination plant.
In a 2017 correspondence, Epstein employee Daphne Wallace clearly stated that sulfuric acid was necessary for the proper functioning of the water purification systems, noting that similar orders had been placed previously, most recently in September 2015.
The 2018 order also included conductivity sensors, pH elements, and cables, further indicating the technical nature of the shipment.
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Some media outlets have pointed out that sulfuric acid has been linked in criminal history to John Haigh, a British serial killer nicknamed “The Acid Bath Murderer.” Though, experts emphasize that there is no direct evidence of the chemical being used in crimes on Epstein’s island.
Other commentators note that sulfuric acid is widely used in industry, including the maintenance of swimming pools and water supply systems. And the fact of the delivery itself, even on a large scale, does not prove criminal intent.
