New Mexico Probes Allegation of Bodies Buried Near Epstein Ranch

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

New Mexico's Department of Justice said it is investigating an allegation, which emerged from documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, that the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ordered the bodies of two foreign girls buried outside his remote New Mexico ranch. The redacted 2019 email, sent to a local radio host, claimed the girls died by strangulation during "rough, fetish sex" and were buried "somewhere in the hills outside the Zorro" ranch.

Why it matters

The investigation into the allegation is part of a broader probe into accusations that Epstein sexually abused girls and women at his Zorro Ranch for over two decades. The case has become a major political challenge for President Donald Trump as pressure mounts to uncover Epstein's crimes in New Mexico.

The details

The redacted email was sent to local radio host Eddy Aragon a few months after Epstein's death in 2019. The sender, claiming to be a former Zorro Ranch employee, requested payment of one bitcoin in return for videos allegedly showing Epstein having sex with minors. Aragon said he believed the email was legitimate and immediately forwarded it to the FBI, though he did not receive any payment or have further contact with the sender. A 2021 FBI report confirmed Aragon's visit to report the email's claims.

• In 2019, a redacted email containing the allegation was sent to a local radio host a few months after Epstein's death.
• On February 10, 2026, New Mexico State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard called for a full investigation into the allegations and Epstein's use of state lands around the ranch.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The New Mexico Department of Justice has requested an unredacted copy of the 2019 email from the U.S. Justice Department to aid its investigation. The state legislature has also launched a comprehensive investigation into the accusations against Epstein.