Epstein’s Zorro Ranch: A House of Horrors in New Mexico

Epstein’s Zorro Ranch: A House of Horrors in New Mexico

Jeffrey Epstein’s sprawling Zorro Ranch in New Mexico was a place of unimaginable suffering, according to survivors and investigators. The vast property, once owned by the disgraced financier, is now being examined in a new light as a key location in the network of abuse. A recent push by New Mexico officials aims to uncover the full truth about what happened on the isolated 7,500-acre estate.

A Remote Estate with Dark Secrets

Epstein purchased the New Mexico ranch in 1993, renaming it Zorro Ranch. Located off a two-lane road between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the property was once the largest in the state owned by a single person.

Pictures from the Epstein investigation files show women and girls riding horses and engaging in target practice on the grounds. A large palace, complete with a pool and library, stood at the center of the estate, surrounded by cottages for staff.

For survivors, the ranch was not a place of luxury but a site of trauma. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a prominent survivor, described entering the ranch as going through “the gates of hell.” She preferred to stay in a cottage closer to the stables, finding solace in nature away from the main house. The isolation of the ranch, she felt, allowed an abuser to believe they could do anything without consequence.

Missed Opportunities for Justice

Concerns are being raised about why federal investigators did not search the Zorro Ranch in 2019. At the time of Epstein’s arrest, investigations into his abuse were expanding to his other properties. However, federal officials reportedly stated they lacked probable cause for a search of the New Mexico ranch.

Hector Balderas, the former New Mexico Attorney General, opened his own investigation into Epstein. His office was asked by the Southern District of New York’s DOJ to stand down, a common practice to avoid duplicate testimony.

Balderas expected the federal prosecutors to share evidence later, but this did not happen. He questions why authorities would search Epstein’s homes in Manhattan and Florida but not the New Mexico ranch.

Balderas only learned about an unsubstantiated tip sent to the FBI in 2019, mentioning two women buried on the hills outside the ranch, after the Justice Department began releasing its Epstein files last year. He called the situation “embarrassing and appalling.” The DOJ has not commented on the specific tip or the decision not to search the ranch.

Survivors Speak Out

At least ten girls and young women have come forward with accusations of being groomed or assaulted at Zorro Ranch. Annie Farmer, who was 16 when she was flown to the ranch in 1996, believed she was joining other college hopefuls. Instead, she found herself alone with Epstein, who later entered her room.

Shanti Davies has publicly stated she was raped twice at the ranch. Another Jane Doe testified in court that Epstein sexually assaulted her when she was 15, leaving her feeling powerless.

Rachel Benavidez, a certified massage therapist, described the ranch as intimidating and isolating when she first arrived in her 20s. She states Epstein repeatedly sexually assaulted her over two years.

Benavidez emphasized the importance of survivors’ voices being heard and believed. “Until we are heard, until survivors are heard and believed, then I don’t think there’s ever going to be any justice,” she stated. She feels there were definite missed chances to hold Epstein accountable.

New Mexico Seeks Answers

In response to the ongoing concerns, New Mexico’s State House unanimously approved a commission this spring to investigate Zorro Ranch. Led by bipartisan representatives, the goal is to help victims share their stories and for New Mexicans to understand what happened and why.

Representatives Andrea Rivera and Andrea Romero stated that while criminal prosecution might be too late, the commission aims to provide closure for victims. They are also seeking unredacted documents and the full investigative file from the federal Justice Department, which New Mexico had turned over years ago. The state has requested this information back but has not yet received it.

The Ranch Today

Federal investigators never searched Zorro Ranch, but state investigators did recently, in March. The current New Mexico Attorney General opened his own investigation, allowing access to the 7,500 acres Epstein owned and an additional 1,200 leased from the state. Despite the search, some question why it took so long, calling it a “land of missed opportunities.”

The DOJ has stated they welcome New Mexico’s investigations and are ready to provide assistance. The state’s Attorney General is also seeking the unredacted Epstein files from the DOJ. The property has since been sold to a Texas real estate developer who plans to create a Christian retreat, transforming the site into a place of healing.

Despite the new ownership and plans, some survivors question if the space can truly be transformed given the horrors that occurred there. However, the sentiment remains that it is better late than never to seek answers and provide a platform for victims. The push for truth and justice continues for the survivors connected to Zorro Ranch.

Source: Epstein's other house of 'horrors': Zorro Ranch (YouTube)