“Epstein, Maxwell strangled them”—detectives dig deeper into Zorro Ranch evidence as survivor accounts surface, exposing the ranch not as an escape but as ground zero for the couple’s most brutal crimes. th

Zorro Ranch Under Scrutiny: New Mexico Probe Revives Allegations of Abuse and Possible Deaths

By North America Affairs Reporter

Published in an international affairs outlet, March 2026

State investigators in New Mexico began searching Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch in early March 2026, part of a reopened criminal inquiry into the financier’s activities at the isolated desert property. The probe, led by the Department of Justice under Attorney General Raúl Torrez, was triggered by recently unsealed Epstein files containing a 2019 anonymous email alleging two “foreign girls” died by strangulation during “rough, fetish sex” and were buried nearby on Epstein’s and Ghislaine Maxwell’s orders.

The email, from an encrypted account claiming former ranch employment, has circulated in media but lacks verification. No survivor testimony in public records directly states Epstein or Maxwell strangled victims to death at Zorro Ranch; accounts from figures like Annie Farmer detail sexual abuse and trafficking there, consistent with Epstein’s pattern elsewhere. The allegation prompted the search, conducted with the current owner’s cooperation on the 7,600-acre estate (sold in 2023). Officials have urged tips from the public while withholding details to protect the investigation.

Zorro Ranch, acquired by Epstein in 1993, functioned as a private retreat where he allegedly hosted and abused young women. Federal authorities never conducted a full search in 2019 despite civil lawsuits and tips, a lapse criticized by New Mexico officials. In February 2026, state lawmakers formed a “truth commission” to probe Epstein’s state activities, including potential trafficking, abuse, and oversight failures. The commission aims to hear survivors and recommend legal reforms.

The ranch’s remoteness—30 miles south of Santa Fe—fueled speculation of hidden crimes. Additional unproven claims in documents and media include nonconsensual experiments or evidence destruction (e.g., a barn chimney tip from 2019). No bodies or conclusive evidence have been publicly reported from the current search.

Torrez emphasized compassion for survivors, noting the investigation prioritizes their accounts. Maxwell, convicted of trafficking in 2021, faces no related homicide charges. Epstein’s 2019 suicide halted his trial. The New Mexico effort addresses perceived federal shortcomings, seeking closure for potential victims.

The case revives broader debates on elite impunity and investigative accountability. While the strangulation-burial claim remains unsubstantiated, it has intensified calls for thorough examination of Epstein’s properties. As the probe unfolds, it underscores the enduring impact of Epstein’s crimes and the challenges of pursuing justice years later.