The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office has initiated an investigation into allegations of criminal activity at Jeffrey Epstein‘s Zorro Ranch property. The probe follows renewed claims, detailed in recently unsealed court documents, that underage girls were strangled and buried at the remote estate.
State authorities confirmed the investigation on Tuesday, stating they are reviewing the allegations to determine if state laws were broken. The Zorro Ranch, a sprawling property near Stanley, New Mexico, was owned by the convicted sex offender and financier until his death in 2019.
Basis of the Investigation
The investigation stems from claims contained within hundreds of pages of documents unsealed earlier this year from a civil lawsuit related to Epstein. While much of the material reiterated known allegations of sexual abuse, new and graphic assertions about activities at the New Mexico ranch prompted official scrutiny.
Specific allegations referenced in the filings include witness accounts suggesting that some victims at the ranch were strangled to death and subsequently buried on the grounds. The Attorney General’s office has not verified these claims but has deemed them serious enough to warrant a formal inquiry.
Property History and Prior Scrutiny
Epstein purchased the 8,000-acre Zorro Ranch in the 1990s. The property, located in a sparsely populated area south of Santa Fe, was long suspected of being a site where Epstein and his associates exploited young women and underage girls.
Despite Epstein’s 2008 conviction in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a minor and his 2019 federal sex trafficking charges, the New Mexico property had not been the subject of a major, dedicated criminal investigation by state authorities until now. Local law enforcement had previously conducted limited checks but found no evidence to pursue charges.
Official Statements and Challenges
A spokesperson for the New Mexico Attorney General stated the office is committed to thoroughly examining the allegations. “We have a duty to investigate any potential violations of New Mexico law, especially those involving such grave accusations,” the spokesperson said. “This process will be meticulous and evidence-based.”
Legal experts note the investigation faces significant hurdles, primarily due to Epstein’s death and the passage of time. Gathering physical evidence related to alleged burials or assaults from years ago may prove difficult. Furthermore, witness testimony will be central to any potential case.
Next Steps in the Inquiry
The investigation is currently in its preliminary fact-finding stage. Officials are expected to begin by reviewing the unsealed court documents in detail and identifying individuals named within them who may have information relevant to New Mexico.
Investigators may seek search warrants for the Zorro Ranch property to conduct forensic examinations. The process is anticipated to be lengthy, with no immediate timeline for completion. The Attorney General’s office will determine whether to pursue criminal charges based solely on the evidence gathered and its applicability under state statute.
