New Mexico authorities began searching Jeffrey Epstein's former ranch, known as Zorro Ranch, on Monday following new information about alleged sexual abuse and sex trafficking that occurred there. The sprawling 10,000-acre property, located about 30 miles south of Santa Fe, was the site of numerous allegations against the late financier.
Key Takeaways
New Mexico authorities began searching Jeffrey Epstein's former ranch, Zorro Ranch, following new information about alleged sexual abuse and sex trafficking that occurred there.
- New Mexico attorney general launched an investigation into Zorro Ranch in February after federal authorities released millions of investigative documents related to Epstein
- The current owners of Zorro Ranch are cooperating with investigators
- Authorities asked members of the public to stay away from the remote ranch area to avoid interfering with law enforcement operations
Attorney General Raúl Torrez reopened an investigation into the ranch in February after federal authorities released millions of investigative documents related to Epstein. The state's initial case had been closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, but revelations outlined in the recently unsealed FBI files warranted further examination.
The current owners of Zorro Ranch, who purchased it from Epstein's estate in 2023, are cooperating with investigators. State police and county authorities assisted in the search, which follows testimony from survivors detailing abuses that allegedly occurred on the ranch for years. The property includes a large hacienda-style mansion surrounded by vast desert landscape under clear blue skies.
New Mexico state legislators have also established a 'truth commission' to examine past activities at Zorro Ranch. Authorities asked members of the public to stay away from the remote ranch area to avoid interfering with law enforcement operations. The investigation poses significant challenges due to the time elapsed since Epstein's death in 2019 and changes that may have occurred at the property during that period.
The New Mexico Department of Justice issued a statement urging the public to stay away from the area and ground any drone activity nearby. The department also stated it would continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead. The US Department of Justice’s latest release of files about Epstein in January contains numerous unsubstantiated – and in some cases implausible – tips related to the sex offender and his associates. These include an email from a purported former Zorro Ranch employee who offered to provide videos of Epstein abusing minors in exchange for payment of one Bitcoin.
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