Did missing Michele fall victim to Epstein sex trafficking ring? Mystery of German, 22, who vanished 11 years ago after model scout told paedophile tycoon about woman 'you will love'

By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:41, 11 June 2026 | Updated: 13:44, 11 June 2026 A German model missing for almost 11 years has been named in the Epstein files, heightening her family's fears about her fate.  The woman, only identified as 'Michele', left her family home in September 2015 when she was 22 and has not been heard of since.  She had long been in contact with a model recruiter named Daniel Siad, who had links to the late convicted sex offender. Epstein died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving minors. Michele had spent time in Dubai and other international locations, reported German newspaper Der Spiegel and public broadcaster ZDF.  According to the Epstein Files, which were released by the US Department of Justice in September 2025, Siad sent at least two messages to the dead paedophile in 2014 - the year before she disappeared.  In February, he appeared to have sent Epstein a picture of Michele, writing: 'I only have this picture of [her] taken in Dubai.' Epstein thanked him for sending the picture through. The following month, Siad wrote to the financier about Michele, who he described as 'the girl you missed from Germany.' He added of her: 'She is a girl I know well. Very cool, great... person. You will love her.' Spiegel said that there is no proof Michele ever met the millionaire. And two former assistants of Jeffrey Epstein, contacted for comment by the magazine, said they had never seen Michele. The woman, only identified as 'Michele' (pictured), left her family home in September 2015 when she was 22 and has not been heard of since Michele had spent time in Dubai and other international locations, reported German newspaper Der Spiegel According to Michele's sister, the model disappeared in 2015 without telling her family where she was going or how long she was going to be away.  But after a month of radio silence, the family contacted the police to report her missing. However, German law states that an active search could only be conducted if there was evidence of a possible crime.  A month became a year. Then it became two. Michele's family told Spiegel that they had no choice but to hope she would eventually reappear.  But it wasn't until the release of the Epstein Files that the family had any trace of her.  Vlado, her father, said he and his wife Annett, who he is now separated from, are desperate to find her again: 'It's so important to us that we find her again - no matter the situation.' The parents revealed that Michele dreamed of having a career as a model even as a teenager, plans that disappointed them. Annett said: 'I wanted her to have a stable job.  'I told her: "You look beautiful now, but what will you do when you're 30 or 40 and no one books you anymore?"'  After spending several years partying as a teenager, she began to tell her mother about some modelling jobs she was getting, though did not give her many details.  Michele moved to Dubai in 2012, and told her mother she was working as a waitress. She also told her that this is where she met Siad.  Vlado revealed that Michele had admitted she was working for Siad as an 'escort.' An ex-partner of Michele's said that Siad would constantly call her and verbally abuse her: 'She was constantly getting calls. Sometimes she was loudly insulted. 'I had the impression that she was under a lot of pressure.' After years of this, Michele appeared to be fed up with how poorly she was being treated.  This photo provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry shows Jeffrey Epstein on March 28, 2017 Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend de Grisogono Sponsors The 2005 Wall Street Concert Series Benefitting Wall Street Rising, with a Performance by Rod Stewart at Cipriani Wall Street on March 15, 2005 in New York City She tried going into rehab back home in Germany. In the evenings, Vlado said he and his daughter would sit in the garden, barbecue and talk about Michele's future: 'We agreed: when I got back from vacation, we'd look for an apartment for her. And a real job.' But this never materialised. In August 2015, shortly before she disappeared, the young woman spent several days with her mother.  And without warning, she disappeared.  Siad is under investigation in France, accused of aiding Epstein to traffic and abuse women. He denies the accusations. Der Spiegel said Siad's name frequently comes up in the Epstein files, in emails in which he sent Epstein photos of women and their bodily measurements, praising their beauty. Der Spiegel and ZDF tried to speak with Siad but he and his lawyer did not respond to several requests. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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