How Epstein lured girls to his Zorro Ranch and kept authorities away
How Epstein lured girls to his Zorro Ranch and kept authorities away
Girls from across the nation were flown to the secluded estate, where they experienced a life of luxury on Epstein’s sprawling 10,000-acre New Mexico ranch. Beneath the vast open skies, they galloped across the mesa, exploring ancient rock formations and posing for photos in his 26,700-square-foot mansion. Activities like hiking, swimming, shopping, and movie nights created an illusion of safety. Epstein’s charm made the girls feel valued, as he engaged in conversations about their ambitions and gave them cash. But this idyllic setting masked darker intentions.
Over time, the trips shifted from carefree fun to moments of vulnerability. Epstein’s physical advances included touching their thighs, requesting massages, and using sex toys. The girls, isolated from home and surrounded by images of him with celebrities and politicians, began to question their ability to resist. A 15-year-old victim remembered the day after an assault, when she rode an ATV across the property with another guest, only to crash into a tree. “Don’t worry,” the other girl reassured her, “no one gets in trouble for anything here.”
A NBC News analysis of court documents, lawsuits, and records reveals that at least 10 individuals, including half who were teenagers, have accused Epstein of grooming or abusing them at the ranch since the mid-1990s. The delay in justice spans nearly two decades, starting from when Epstein was first implicated in Florida for paying underage girls for sex. A 2008 federal agreement allowed him to avoid significant prison time, sidestepping scrutiny in New Mexico. At that time, the state lacked strict sex offender laws, and human trafficking wasn’t even recognized as a crime.
Years passed before New Mexico authorities acted. Their initial probe into Epstein began in 2019, after the statute of limitations expired for some offenses. Federal officials in New York, focused on building a multistate case, urged the shutdown of the state investigation, leaving the ranch largely untouched. Recently, the Department of Justice’s released files have uncovered new evidence, including a tip about two “foreign girls” dying during sexual encounters and being buried on-site. These revelations have prompted state officials to initiate two investigations: one by the New Mexico Department of Justice and another by a truth commission of lawmakers.
On Monday, state agents conducted the first search of the ranch since Epstein’s death six years prior. His victims and families describe this moment as overdue. “I ask the FBI and local law enforcement to continue uncovering the evil abuse and trafficking that took place on Zorro Ranch,” said Rachel Benavidez, a massage therapist who endured Epstein’s exploitation starting in 2000. “Hold all those involved, who turned a blind eye, fully accountable.”
“It’s incumbent upon our nation to get to the bottom of all this stuff one way or another and find out what the truth is — regardless of where the chips fall,” Lou Gibney, a 65-year-old semiretired construction worker from Albuquerque, stated. The ranch remains a symbol of shame for locals, who have set up a memorial near the entrance. Flowers, crosses, and protest signs now mark the site, as residents demand answers.
