Epstein Ranch Probed for Human Trafficking

0:00It's March 23rd, you're listening to entertainment and celebrity news today, AI-powered entertainment coverage. Authorities in New Mexico are probing Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro ranch near Santa Fe for possible human trafficking and other crimes. The Department of Justice recently released photos from inside the property, showing rooms like a library with bookshelves and a desk, a kitchen with hanging pots and a sitting area with chairs and sofas. Epstein bought the expansive ranch in the early 1990s and finished building a large mansion by 1996. He stayed there around two months each year, making it one of his key properties alongside his island. Rumors have swirled for years about serious abuses at the ranch, including claims from emails that two foreign girls died by strangulation during. Rough sexual activity and were buried in nearby hills. No bodies have turned up yet, but the allegations have fueled public concern over Epstein's network. Earlier this year, on February 19th, the New Mexico Department of Justice launched a formal search of the site for evidence of illegal acts before Epstein's death in 2019.

1:06Officials say they're following leads carefully and preserving whatever they find. The ranch's new owner, former Senator Don Huffins, purchased it in 2023 and renamed it San Rafael for a healing theme. He's pledged full cooperation with police and aims to transform it into a Christian retreat, with sale proceeds going to Epstein's victims. As the probe continues, more details could emerge soon.