The son of two senior Norwegian diplomats has been found dead in Oslo, authorities said on Tuesday. Edward Juul Rod‑Larsen, 25, was discovered after police launched a joint French‑Norwegian investigation into his parents, Mona Juul and Terje Rod‑Larsen, over alleged connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Norwegian newspaper VG reported that lawyers for the family confirmed the death was a suicide. The investigation focuses on claims that Epstein assisted the couple in purchasing an apartment and bequeathed $5 million to each of their children in his will. The probe follows the wider international fallout from the recent release of millions of documents related to Epstein’s network, known as the “Epstein files,” which have prompted criminal inquiries, arrests and resignations in several countries.
Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting sex from a minor and served 13 months of an 18‑month sentence, was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex‑trafficking charges. He died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial. The U.S. Department of Justice has been gradually publishing materials linked to the case under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, enacted in 2022.
The newly released documents name a range of high‑profile individuals, linking some to Epstein’s social circle or to financial transactions with him. While many have acknowledged contact, most deny any wrongdoing. The disclosures have spurred investigations in Europe and the United States, including probes into former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland, who was hospitalized after a reported suicide attempt following corruption charges related to Epstein hospitality, and World Economic Forum chief Borge Brende, who resigned after scrutiny of his communications with Epstein.
In the United States, the files have renewed focus on former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, both of whom have been deposed about their interactions with Epstein but continue to deny knowledge of his trafficking activities.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the scandal as exposing “pure Satanism” within the Western elite, accusing them of diverting attention from Russia by fabricating threats. The comment reflects the broader geopolitical tension surrounding the revelations.
The death of Edward Juul Rod‑Larsen adds a personal tragedy to the ongoing legal and political scrutiny of Epstein’s network. Authorities in Norway and France are continuing their investigation, while further releases of Epstein‑related documents are expected to keep the issue in the international spotlight.
