New Mexico authorities began searching Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch on Monday, March 9, after allegations surfaced in the "Epstein Files" that two foreign girls’ bodies were buried on the property. The search follows Attorney General Raul Torrez’s February decision to reopen criminal inquiries tied to the ranch. Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, sold the ranch via his estate in 2023 to Don Huffines, who is cooperating with investigators. The New Mexico Department of Justice says it will keep the public informed as the probe continues.
Authorities Search Jeffrey Epstein’s Former Zorro Ranch After Allegations Two Girls Were Buried There
Zorro Ranch; Jeffrey EpsteinCredit: BACKGRID; New York State Division of Criminal Justice/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Law enforcement officials in New Mexico began searching the property once owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Monday, March 9, acting on new allegations that two foreign girls’ remains may have been buried on the site.
The probe traces back to claims published in the so-called "Epstein Files," which allege that Epstein had the bodies of two foreign girls buried in the hills near his Zorro Ranch, located south of Santa Fe, according to reporting by Reuters.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez reopened criminal inquiries related to the ranch in February, and authorities say the current search is part of that renewed effort to investigate alleged crimes at the property.
"The New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead," Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a statement.
Zorro Ranch was one of several high-profile properties associated with Epstein, along with his Manhattan townhouse, Palm Beach estate and a private Caribbean island. Investigators previously searched some of Epstein's other properties, but reporting by The New York Times indicates allegations specific to the New Mexico ranch had not been exhaustively examined until this reopening of the probe.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in a Manhattan jail. In 2023, Epstein's estate sold Zorro Ranch to Texas businessman Don Huffines, who has since renamed the property and is reported to be cooperating with investigators.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org for resources and support.
Reporting in this article cites Reuters and The New York Times. Investigations are ongoing; allegations referenced here remain unproven unless confirmed by authorities or legal proceedings.
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