Authorities conduct a major search at Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch in New Mexico, targeting the possible remains of two girls allegedly strangled during intense sexual encounters. The operation spans the 7,500-acre property near Stanley, 30 miles south of Santa Fe.
Launch of the Search Operation
Agents from the New Mexico Department of Justice, state police, and the local sheriff’s office initiated the search on Monday and extended it into Tuesday. This effort supports a ‘truth commission’ established unanimously by state lawmakers last month to uncover activities at the ranch.
The current owners, the family of Texas real estate developer Don Huffines, who renamed it Rancho de San Rafael and plans a Christian retreat, granted full access to the property and surrounding public lands.
Background on Persistent Rumors
Rumors of deaths at Zorro Ranch have circulated for years. Law enforcement now expresses confidence in locating any remains and identifying the victims. State Rep. Andrea Romero, a commission member who championed its creation, stated, “We have heard years of allegations and rumors about Epstein’s activities in New Mexico, but unfortunately, federal investigations have failed to put together an official record.”
Romero added, “With this truth commission, we can finally fill in the gaps by investigating the failures that led to the horrific allegations of abuse and crime at Zorro Ranch, so we can learn from them and prevent such atrocities from taking place in our state going forward.”
The search followed protests by hundreds on International Women’s Day, where supporters rallied for sexual abuse victims outside the ranch.
Allegations of Abuse and Human Experimentation
The ranch, purchased by Epstein in 1993 from former Gov. Bruce King, served as a secluded site for alleged sexual abuse and trafficking. New witnesses report nonconsensual medical procedures, including drugging, harvesting of sex organs and sperm, and waking near medical equipment.
Romero noted, “We have people coming forward saying they were drugged, had sex organs and sperm harvested from their bodies, and woke up around medical equipment not knowing where they were or what happened to them.” These claims align with Epstein’s reported eugenics interests, envisioning the ranch as a base for inseminating women to create a superior bloodline.
One tip involves an adult woman alleging experimentation on her sex organs as a toddler. Since the commission’s announcement in late October, officials received 25 to 30 tips.
Ranch Features and History
The 13-square-mile estate features a 26,700-square-foot hacienda, guest lodges, stables, a private airstrip, hangar, helipad, greenhouse, and cattle operations. Epstein owned it until his 2019 death. Listed initially at $27.5 million in 2021, it sold in 2023 for an undisclosed sum to its current owners.
Civil suits claim visits by figures like Prince Andrew during Virginia Giuffre’s trafficking period (2000-2002). Unverified reports mention Bill Clinton and others. Sisters Maria and Annie Farmer allege abuse there in 1996.
Truth Commission Details
The proposed commission, seeking $2.5 million, includes two Democrats, two Republicans, and a nonpartisan member. It aims to gather testimony, document abuses, and recommend reforms, starting April 2026 with subpoena power.
State Rep. Andrea Reeb, a former prosecutor, stated, “Zorro Ranch has given New Mexico a black eye. We as a state haven’t been aggressive enough on figuring out what happened there. My main interest is to see if we can bring justice to some of the victims.”
Romero emphasized, “We don’t know what’s fact from fiction, but owe it to the people of our state to sort through these threads of information and get answers.”
Former Staff Insights
Ex-maid Renee Burns, who worked 2005-2010, saw young women but no illegal acts, noting Epstein’s imperious demeanor. Maintenance worker Manolito Royal observed models but avoided details, welcoming the probe: “I’m kinda surprised it’s taken so long.”
The commission plans to question managers Karen and Brice Gordon, who reportedly left post-Epstein.
