Madoff son sent final email before death

A post mortem was due to take place on Sunday to determine the cause of death in the suspected suicide of Mark Madoff.

The 46-year-old was found dead in his apartment in New York City's SoHo district of Manhattan by his father-in-law.

Along with his brother Andrew, Mark Madoff was under investigation but had not faced any criminal charges arising from the Ponzi scheme that led to their father's jailing.

Bernard Madoff swindled a large number of investors out of billions of dollars and is serving a 150-year prison term in North Carolina.

The death came exactly two years to the day since his father's arrest.

It is reported Mr Madoff's two-year-old son was in the apartment at the time of his death.

His wife Stephanie had become concerned after an exchange of emails between the couple and sent her father to check on him.

The scandal has cast a harsh light on members of the Madoff family, with the financier's brother, Peter, playing a prominent role in the family's company.

Mark and Andrew Madoff both worked on a trading desk at the firm, on a side of the business that was not directly involved in the Ponzi scheme.

A year ago, the court-appointed trustee trying to unravel Madoff's financial affairs sued several members of the family, including the brothers.

He accused them of failing to detect the fraud while enjoying lavish lifestyles financed by the family's ill-gotten fortune.

The lawsuit accused Mark Madoff of using $66m he received improperly to buy luxury homes in New York City, Massachusetts and Connecticut