State investigators search Zorro Ranch

BY DAN BOYD

JOURNAL CAPITOL BUREAU

SANTA FE — Investigators with the New Mexico Department of Justice and two other law enforcement agencies searched Jeffrey Epstein’s former ranch near Stanley on Monday as part of a recently reopened criminal probe.

A state Department of Justice spokeswoman confirmed the search, but did not immediately provide information about search results and possible findings.

The search of Zorro Ranch comes less than one month after state Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced his office was reviving a criminal investigation into activities at Epstein’s former ranch in New Mexico.

It also comes one day after hundreds of people gathered outside the ranch — located just off a rural state highway — in support of victims and survivors of sexual abuse on International Women’s Day. New Mexico Department of Justice spokeswoman Lauren Rodriguez said Monday the search at Zorro Ranch was carried out with the assistance of New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office.

She also said the ranch’s current owner had granted access for the search to be conducted.

“The New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors and follow the facts wherever they lead,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

But she declined to say what investigators were looking for — or how many days they might continue their work, saying late Monday the search was still ongoing.

Rodriguez also urged the public to stay away from the area and refrain from flying drones that could interfere with ongoing law enforcement

activities.

Epstein purchased the Zorro Ranch from the family of former Gov. Bruce King in 1993. The property is located near Stanley on more than 7,500 acres of land and features a 33,339-square-foot mansion, pool, hot tub and other structures. It was sold for an undisclosed price in 2023 to the family of Texas real estate mogul Don Huffines, who said last month on social media he plans to convert it into a Christian retreat center.

Court documents and civil cases have accused Epstein of sexually assaulting teenage girls and women at the ranch, which was one of several properties owned by Epstein. The financier and convicted sex offender also reportedly had homes in New York, Florida, Paris and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

One plaintiff described the property in 2019 as being “like a park” where teenage girls were encouraged to ride horses and ATVs, and to use the pool and hot tub.

Epstein died in August 2019 in a New York City jail while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in New York and Florida. Medical investigators determined at the time that he died by suicide.

Even before his death, New Mexico state officials had investigated Epstein’s actions, though no criminal charges were ever filed in the state. Former Attorney General Hector Balderas recently said federal prosecutors asked the state in 2019 to halt its investigation, promising to share evidence that was ultimately never provided.

However, the public testimony from survivors and an ongoing push to have the U.S. Department of Justice release thousands of files related to Epstein have sparked renewed interest in the case.

The New Mexico House of Representatives also approved creation of a new truth-finding commission during this year’s 30-day legislative session. The four-member commission has already held one meeting and could begin issuing subpoenas to persons of interest in the coming weeks.

In announcing last month the state Department of Justice would reopen its criminal investigation, Torrez said he planned to collaborate with the truth-finding commission and other law enforcement agencies.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @ DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.