Son of Norwegian Diplomats Under Epstein Probe Dies by Suicide at 25

Key facts

• Edward Juul Rod-Larsen, 25, was found dead in Oslo on Wednesday.
• His parents, Mona Juul and Terje Rod-Larsen, are under investigation for alleged corruption over ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Epstein bequeathed $10 million to the couple's two children; Edward's share was $5 million.
• The couple visited Epstein's private island, Little Saint James, in 2011 with their children.
• Norwegian and French police established a joint investigation team (JIT) on Monday.
• Police are investigating financial assistance for an Oslo apartment purchased below market value in 2018.
• Mona Juul resigned as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq in February amid the scandal.
• Terje Rod-Larsen was appointed executor of Epstein's will in 2017, later revoked.

A Family Under Scrutiny

Edward Juul Rod-Larsen, the 25-year-old son of two senior Norwegian diplomats under investigation for their ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has died by suicide. He was found dead in Oslo on Wednesday, according to the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang. The death comes just two days after Norwegian and French police announced a joint corruption investigation into his parents, Mona Juul and Terje Rod-Larsen. In a statement released through their lawyers, the couple blamed the intense public speculation surrounding their financial ties to Epstein as a contributing factor in their son's death.

The Joint Investigation

On Monday, Okokrim, the Norwegian police's economic crime unit, announced the establishment of a joint investigation team (JIT) with French authorities. Senior state prosecutor Marianne Bender said the JIT would make international cooperation more efficient, eliminating the need for repeated letters of request for information between the two countries. The investigation focuses on whether Juul and Rod-Larsen received improper benefits through their association with Epstein. Norwegian police had already opened an investigation in February into whether Juul 'received benefits in connection to her position.'

Allegations of Financial Misconduct

police are examining several specific transactions. These include financial assistance the couple received to purchase an Oslo apartment in 2018 at a price below market value, a trip to Epstein's island in 2011, and the payment of home-care services for Rod-Larsen. The couple denies having committed any offences. Their lawyers stated that the months of public scrutiny had become 'suspicious, speculative and at times limitless,' drawing their children involuntarily into 'the relentless machinery of the public.'

The Epstein Connection

Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking, reportedly left $10 million in his will to Juul and Rod-Larsen's two children. Edward's share was $5 million. Terje Rod-Larsen was initially appointed executor of Epstein's will in 2017, though this was later revoked. The couple visited Epstein's private island, Little Saint James, in 2011 with their children, when Edward and his twin sister were around 10 years old. In an email, Rod-Larsen thanked Epstein for the invitation, describing the island as 'totally unique' and adding, 'We all loved it!' and 'Mona sends a kiss.'

Diplomatic Careers and the Oslo Accords

Mona Juul, 67, and Terje Rod-Larsen, 78, played key roles in the secret Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that led to the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s. Juul was a section chief at the Norwegian foreign ministry and later became ambassador to the United Kingdom in the 2010s. She was forced to resign as Norway's ambassador to Jordan and Iraq in February as a result of the scandal. Rod-Larsen served as a special envoy to the UN secretary general part-time from 2005 to 2016. He was also a former president of the International Peace Institute. He is accused of gross corruption in connection with the Epstein ties.

Wider Investigations in France

Several investigations have been opened in France into possible financial offences committed by people mentioned in the Epstein files. One such probe involves diplomat Fabrice Aidan, who worked at the United Nations from 2006 to 2013 and served as an aide to Rod-Larsen. The joint investigation team between Norway and France is expected to streamline the probe, which spans multiple jurisdictions. The French investigation is linked to a specific case involving Juul and Rod-Larsen, though details remain undisclosed.

The Human Toll

The suicide of Edward Juul Rod-Larsen underscores the devastating personal consequences of the scandal. The couple's statement highlighted the toll on their children, who were drawn into the public eye against their will. As the investigation proceeds, the focus remains on the alleged corruption and the couple's ties to Epstein. The case continues to unfold, with both Norwegian and French authorities cooperating closely.

The bottom line

• Edward Juul Rod-Larsen, son of diplomats under Epstein probe, died by suicide at 25.
• Norwegian and French police have launched a joint corruption investigation into Mona Juul and Terje Rod-Larsen.
• The couple is accused of receiving financial benefits from Epstein, including a below-market apartment and a trip to his island.
• Epstein bequeathed $10 million to the couple's children; Rod-Larsen was briefly executor of Epstein's will.
• Mona Juul resigned as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq in February amid the scandal.
• The couple denies any wrongdoing and blames public speculation for their son's death.