How Epstein lured girls to his Zorro Ranch and kept authorities away
Epstein’s Zorro Ranch: A Hidden Paradise for Exploitation
Jeffrey Epstein’s 10,000-acre New Mexico ranch, known as Zorro Ranch, initially appeared as an enticing escape for young women in need of financial or professional support. Traveling from across the nation, these girls were greeted by the allure of a secluded estate, where they enjoyed horseback riding over a mesa adorned with ancient rock formations. They snapped photos in Epstein’s expansive 26,700-square-foot mansion, explored trails, swam in pools, and soaked in movies. Though interacting with a wealthy man felt unusual, Epstein cultivated an aura of admiration, offering mentorship and monetary gifts to make them feel valued.
Yet, beneath the surface of this rustic retreat, the experience grew darker. Epstein’s actions shifted from casual companionship to explicit manipulation, involving touch, stripping for massages, and the use of sex toys. Victims reported feeling disoriented and afraid, especially after witnessing Epstein’s connections with prominent figures. His influence, combined with the ranch’s remote location, made them believe they had no means to resist. One girl, who was 15 at the time, recounted a traumatic ATV crash following an assault, while a companion reassured her, “No one gets in trouble for anything here.”
By 2006, the truth began to emerge. At least 10 individuals, including half who were teenagers, alleged that Epstein had exploited them at the ranch since the mid-1990s. A 2008 federal agreement allowed him to avoid significant prison time, leveraging a sweetheart deal that shielded him from scrutiny. This deal also stalled New Mexico’s investigation, as the state’s lax sex offender laws permitted Epstein to bypass registration requirements. It wasn’t until 2008 that human trafficking became a recognized crime in the state, further complicating prosecutions.
Local authorities launched their first probe into Epstein in 2019, but some crimes had already expired under the statute of limitations. Federal agencies in New York, focused on their own multi-state case, urged the shutdown of the New Mexico investigation. Now, with the Department of Justice’s recent release of Epstein’s files, including an unverified claim of two “foreign girls” dying during sexual encounters and being buried on-site, state officials are vowing to finally uncover the ranch’s secrets.
New Efforts to Uncover the Past
Two investigations have been initiated: one by the New Mexico Department of Justice and another by a state-led truth commission. On Monday, state officials conducted the ranch’s first-ever search, six years after Epstein’s death. His victims and families argue this moment is long overdue, calling for accountability from those who ignored the abuse.
“I ask the FBI and local law enforcement to continue uncovering the evil abuse and trafficking that took place on Zorro Ranch, and hold all those involved, who turned a blind eye, fully accountable,” said Rachel Benavidez, a massage therapist abused there from 2000 onward.
“We need to find out what happened,” remarked Lou Gibney, a 65-year-old semiretired construction worker. “It’s incumbent upon our nation to get to the bottom of all this stuff one way or another and find out what the truth is — regardless of where the chips fall.”
Despite these new steps, challenges remain. With a new owner transforming the property into a Christian retreat, the future of justice for the ranch’s victims is uncertain. Yet, locals continue to mark their outrage, erecting a memorial outside the entrance and displaying protest signs as they pass by Highway 41. The ranch still carries a weight of shame for New Mexicans, a symbol of secrets buried in the high desert for decades.