(CNN) Jeffrey Epstein's cause of death was suicide by hanging, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Friday.

Hours later, Epstein's attorneys said they will conduct their own investigation into the circumstances of his death.

The medical examiner's determination came almost a week after the multimillionaire was found in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, where the 66-year-old was awaiting trial on federal charges accusing him of sexually abusing underage girls and running a sex trafficking ring. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The autopsy was performed Sunday, the chief medical examiner's office said in a statement at the time, but its findings were pending further information. A private pathologist also observed the autopsy, the statement said, calling it "routine practice."

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