Son of Norwegian Diplomats Dies by Suicide Amid Epstein Scandal

Key facts

• Edward Juul Rød-Larsen, 25, died by suicide in Oslo on Wednesday.
• His parents, Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen, are under investigation for alleged corruption linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
• The couple visited Epstein's Little Saint James island in 2011 with their children, then aged 10.
• Epstein bequeathed $10 million to the couple's two children; Edward received $5 million.
• Terje Rød-Larsen was appointed executor of Epstein's will in 2017, later revoked.
• Norwegian and French police established a joint investigation team (JIT) on Monday.
• Police are probing a below-market apartment purchase in Oslo in 2018, a 2011 island trip, and home-care payments.
• Mona Juul resigned as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq in February 2023.

A Death Amid Scrutiny

Edward Juul Rød-Larsen, the 25-year-old son of two senior Norwegian diplomats under investigation for their ties to Jeffrey Epstein, has died by suicide. He was found dead in Oslo on Wednesday, just two days after Norwegian and French police announced a joint corruption investigation into his parents. In a statement released through their lawyers, Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen blamed the intense public scrutiny for their son's death. They described “months of a public spotlight that has long since ceased to be critical, and has instead become suspicious, speculative and at times limitless,” adding that the spotlight “has not only affected two parents, but has also drawn their children involuntarily into the relentless machinery of the public.”

The Epstein Connection

The couple's alleged links to Epstein were uncovered in files released by the U.S. Department of Justice. The documents showed that the family visited Epstein's private island, Little Saint James, in 2011, when Edward and his twin sister were about 10 years old. In an email, Terje Rød-Larsen thanked Epstein for the invitation, calling the island “totally unique” and adding, “We all loved it!” He also wrote, “Mona sends a kiss.” Epstein's will reportedly left $10 million to the couple's two children, with Edward inheriting $5 million. Terje Rød-Larsen was appointed executor of Epstein's will in 2017, though that role was later revoked. A photograph from the Epstein files shows Rød-Larsen holding up his phone, displaying a social media page of a woman in a bikini.

Investigations in Norway and France

Norwegian police opened an investigation in February into whether Mona Juul “received benefits in connection to her position.” The probe expanded after the release of Epstein files, and on Monday, a joint investigation team (JIT) was established between Norway's economic crime unit, Økokrim, and French authorities. Senior state prosecutor Marianne Bender said the JIT will make international cooperation more efficient, eliminating the need for separate letters of request for each exchange of information. The investigation covers several specific allegations: financial assistance the couple received to purchase an Oslo apartment in 2018 at a price below market value, the 2011 trip to Epstein's island, and payment for home-care services for Terje Rød-Larsen. The couple denies any wrongdoing. In France, a separate probe is examining possible financial offences by individuals named in the Epstein files, including diplomat Fabrice Aidan, who worked at the United Nations from 2006 to 2013 and served as an aide to Rød-Larsen.

A Diplomatic Fall from Grace

Mona Juul, 67, and Terje Rød-Larsen, 78, were once celebrated for their role in the secret Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that led to the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s. Juul served as 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 ambassador to Jordan and Iraq in February as the scandal broke. Terje Rød-Larsen, a former president of the International Peace Institute, also served as a special envoy to the UN secretary general from 2005 to 2016. He is now accused of gross corruption. The couple's legal team has condemned the media frenzy, arguing that it has unfairly targeted not only the parents but also their children.

What Comes Next

The joint investigation between Norway and France is expected to intensify, with authorities on both sides sharing evidence and coordinating interviews. The probe into the apartment purchase, the island visit, and the home-care payments will likely be central to the case. The couple maintains their innocence, but the loss of their son has added a tragic dimension to the proceedings. The case has also drawn attention to the broader network of Epstein's associates, particularly those in diplomatic and political circles. As the investigation unfolds, more details may emerge about the extent of the couple's dealings with the convicted sex offender and how those ties intersected with their official duties.

The bottom line

• Edward Juul Rød-Larsen died by suicide amid a joint Norwegian-French corruption investigation into his parents' ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
• The couple visited Epstein's island with their children in 2011, and Epstein left $10 million to their two children in his will.
• Norwegian police are investigating a below-market apartment purchase, the island trip, and home-care payments as potential corruption benefits.
• Mona Juul resigned as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq in February; Terje Rød-Larsen faces gross corruption accusations.
• The joint investigation team (JIT) between Norway and France aims to streamline cross-border evidence sharing.
• The couple's lawyers blame the public spotlight for contributing to their son's suicide.