“Shadows on Little St. James: As Resort Plans Stall, 2026 Files Renew Questions About Lingering Secrets”
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, February 28, 2026 – Little St. James, the 72-acre private island once synonymous with Jeffrey Epstein’s darkest crimes, remains a place of uneasy fascination in 2026. Sold in 2023 to billionaire Stephen Deckoff for $60 million with ambitious plans for a 25-room luxury resort, the property has seen partial demolition of Epstein-era structures—including the distinctive blue-striped temple-like building—but little visible progress toward redevelopment. Amid the Justice Department’s ongoing release of millions of Epstein files under the 2025 Transparency Act, renewed scrutiny has turned to whether the island’s “cursed” legacy truly ended with Epstein’s 2019 death—or if echoes of his network persist in hidden ways.
Deckoff, founder of Black Diamond Capital Management, announced the purchase of both Little St. James and neighboring Great St. James with promises of economic benefits for the U.S. Virgin Islands: job creation, tourism boost, and environmental respect. Yet as of early 2026, permitting delays and no reported construction have left the islands largely unchanged—dotted with overgrown paths, abandoned villas, and “no trespassing” signs that still guard the shoreline. House Oversight Committee Democrats released never-before-seen 2020 images and walkthrough video from USVI authorities in December 2025, showing stark interiors: neutral bedrooms, a pool area, a library-like room with a chalkboard scrawled with words like “deception” and “power,” and an unsettling dentist-chair setup with wall-mounted masks. No people appear in the footage, but the visuals have fueled speculation about what else might remain concealed.
The files—over 3 million pages since January 2026—include flight logs, financial ledgers, and investigative notes that reference the island as a hub for Epstein’s trafficking from the late 1990s onward. Victims alleged abuse occurred in villas and remote areas; FBI raids in 2019 seized materials, but questions linger about unrecovered evidence. A 2024 WIRED investigation traced mobile-device data showing nearly 200 visitors pre-2019, mapping paths to elite homes and offices—yet no new trespassing or infiltration incidents have been confirmed post-sale.
Public imagination, however, has filled the void. Online theories claim “haunted ground” still harbors secrets—buried files, hidden structures, or active remnants of Epstein’s influence. Some speculate Deckoff’s stalled plans reflect caution over stigma or unresolved legal risks; others point to broader fallout from the files: international probes in France, Latvia, and Lithuania into trafficking links, U.S. resignations, and scrutiny of figures tied to Epstein correspondence.
Officials emphasize change: demolitions removed symbols of the past, and any future resort would prioritize victim restitution funds from the estate settlement. The USVI Attorney General’s office and DOJ stress no active criminal activity on the islands post-2019. Deckoff’s team has cited permitting hurdles and environmental reviews as reasons for delays.
Yet the contrast endures: a site of alleged horrors now eyed for luxury tourism, its silence amplifying questions. If hidden connections or unreleased evidence surface—perhaps in future file tranches—what revelations could emerge? For survivors and observers, Little St. James is no mere real-estate relic; it’s a reminder that Epstein’s empire may have crumbled, but its shadows linger, waiting for the full truth to break free.
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