Entertainment
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs placed on suicide watch amid sex trafficking charges
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, 54, has been placed on suicide watch as he remains in pre-trial detention at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), sources tell PEOPLE.
Combs, who was arrested on the night of September 16 at a Manhattan hotel, faces serious charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The indictment, unsealed on September 17, revealed allegations that Combs used his fame, influence, and drugs like cocaine, ketamine, and oxycodone to coerce women into “freak offs”—highly produced and elaborate sex performances.
Some of these events were allegedly recorded without the victims’ consent.
Federal investigators also uncovered three AR-15 rifles and 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant in raids on his Miami and Los Angeles properties earlier this year.
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Combs pleaded not guilty during his court appearance but was denied bail twice due to concerns about flight risk and the gravity of the charges. His legal team, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, argued that the conditions at MDC were unfit for pre-trial detention, citing previous deaths and suicides in the facility.
“Several courts in this District have recognized that the conditions at Metropolitan Detention Center are not fit for pre-trial detention,” his attorneys wrote.
The facility, which houses 1,600 inmates, has faced criticism for being understaffed and dangerous, with at least four suicides and one murder reported in the last three years.
Although it remains unclear whether Combs is suicidal, sources indicate that his placement on suicide watch is a preventative measure, as he is reportedly in shock and his mental state is uncertain.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, suicide watch involves increased observation of inmates at risk of self-harm.
Agnifilo has requested Combs’ transfer to a prison in Essex County, New Jersey, but the decision now lies with the Bureau of Prisons. Meanwhile, Combs’ next court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 24.
For those struggling with mental health, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available for support by dialing 988 or texting “STRENGTH” to 741741.
As the case unfolds, it has already attracted widespread attention due to the nature of the charges and Combs’ high-profile status in the entertainment industry.
His attorneys have not yet commented on his current mental state or the ongoing legal battle.