State officials in New Mexico have reportedly launched the first comprehensive search of Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious Zorro Ranch, years after an anonymous tip claimed bodies might be buried on the property.
According to The New York Times, investigators began examining the ranch on Monday, though authorities acknowledge that the passage of time could make it difficult to uncover clear evidence.
State Attorney General Raúl Torrez recently wrote in The Albuquerque Journal that investigators may face “real obstacles” in determining whether crimes occurred on the property. Despite the challenges, he said the public—and anyone who may have been harmed—deserve a full and transparent account of what investigators are able to find.
The renewed attention stems from a tip reportedly made in 2019 by someone who claimed to have worked at the ranch. The individual alleged that Epstein had ordered the bodies of two abused girls to be buried in the hills near the property. It remains unclear whether federal authorities ever fully investigated that claim at the time.
Since Epstein’s death in 2019, the ranch has changed ownership. The property was purchased by businessman Don Huffines, who recently won the Republican primary for Texas comptroller. Huffines has said he is cooperating fully with the state’s investigation.
He has since renamed the property San Rafael Ranch and announced plans to convert the sprawling estate into a Christian retreat. Meanwhile, the ongoing search is expected to determine whether any evidence remains tied to the disturbing allegations surrounding the ranch.#newsafro_
