...
By Gabe Whisnant
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
New Mexico authorities searched the former Zorro Ranch property once owned by Jeffrey Epstein on Monday as part of a reopened criminal investigation into alleged illegal activity at the estate prior to Epstein’s death in 2019, the state Department of Justice said. The search was carried out at the direction of Attorney General Raúl Torrez, with assistance from the New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said the operation marks a significant step in an investigation revived last month after state prosecutors reviewed newly released federal materials tied to Epstein.
...
Read More on U.S.
Search Tied to Reopened Criminal Investigation
The state's Justice Department said the search is connected to a criminal probe it announced February 19 after examining information recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice, including previously sealed FBI files. State officials said those records warranted renewed scrutiny of alleged activity at the New Mexico ranch, which had not been searched during earlier federal investigations.
“This search is part of the criminal investigation announced by the New Mexico Department of Justice on February 19th into allegations of illegal activity at Epstein’s ranch prior to Epstein’s 2019 death,” a department spokesperson said in a statement, adding that investigators will “follow the facts wherever they lead.”
The department said it remains committed to supporting survivors and will continue to keep the public appropriately informed as the investigation proceeds.
Public Asked to Avoid Area as Probe Continues
Authorities said the current owners of the property cooperated by granting access for the search and thanked ranch staff for their professionalism. Officials urged members of the public to stay away from the area and to refrain from flying drones nearby, warning that such activity could interfere with ongoing law enforcement operations.
The state Justice Department also encouraged anyone with credible information related to events that occurred in New Mexico to submit tips to investigators.
Questions Over Why Ranch Was Never Secured
The renewed investigation has revived long‑standing questions about why the Zorro Ranch was never secured or searched after Epstein’s arrest and death in 2019. While Epstein’s properties in New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands were raided as part of federal probes, records show the New Mexico ranch was not.
The state’s earlier inquiry was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, a decision that has since drawn criticism from state lawmakers and survivor advocates.
Lawmaker Raises Evidence Preservation Concerns
State Representative Andrea Romero, a Democrat who represents Santa Fe, told Newsweek last week that the failure to secure Epstein’s more than 7,500‑acre New Mexico property after his death has heightened concerns about whether potential evidence can still be preserved — particularly as renovation work is now underway.
Romero is a sponsor of New Mexico’s nonpartisan Epstein Truth Commission, a legislative panel created to establish a public record of alleged abuse tied to the ranch.
“The fact that we have to do it at all is absurd,” Romero said. “We need to be able to trust our institutions.”
She said the lack of a clear federal accounting has left lawmakers and survivors attempting to reconstruct events years after the fact.
...
Truth Commission Warns of Potential Evidence Loss
Romero told Newsweek concerns about possible evidence loss are shared by a former FBI agent serving on the Truth Commission, who warned that immediate action is needed to preserve what remains.
“We’ve got to stop this,” the former agent said, stressing the need to ensure “things aren’t being changed around while we have victims coming forward,” according to Romero.
Romero said reopening the investigation has created what she described as a rare opportunity for accountability after years of unanswered questions, particularly for survivors who say allegations tied to New Mexico were never fully examined.
Federal Request to Seize Property Was Denied
Romero said New Mexico officials asked federal authorities in 2019 to seize Epstein‑linked properties to prevent their private sale, a step she said could have preserved the ranch for examination. That request was denied after the state was told to stand down.
Asked whether that directive was presented as temporary or final, Romero said the outcome was clear in practice.
“I mean, effectively final, right? Because they have not reopened their criminal probe,” she said. “The federal government told us to stand down, but there were no crimes tried at all.”
What Comes Next in the Investigation
Epstein purchased the Zorro Ranch in 1993. Court filings and civil lawsuits have accused Epstein and his associates, including Ghislaine Maxwell, of sexually abusing underage girls at the property. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking charges related to Epstein’s network. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges.
The ranch was sold by Epstein’s estate in 2023 to a Texas businessman who has said he plans to convert the property into a retreat and has pledged to cooperate with law enforcement if requested.
Romero said state prosecutors are now leading any cases that can still be brought, while the Truth Commission is focused on documenting allegations that fall outside the reach of criminal courts.
“We as New Mexicans need to know what happened there,” Romero said, “and we as a country need to know why these crimes were somehow disregarded or ignored when it came to New Mexico.”
Updates: 3/9/26, 8:08 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines