- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Authorities Search Epstein's Former New Mexico Ranch
State police and local sheriff's office conduct investigation at Zorro Ranch, now owned by former Texas state senator
Published on Mar. 10, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Authorities in New Mexico have started searching a remote ranch previously owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as part of an ongoing probe into alleged illegal activity at the property. The search of Zorro Ranch, located about 30 miles from Santa Fe, is being conducted by state police and the local sheriff's office at the direction of state Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
Why it matters
The investigation into Epstein's former ranch reignites concerns about the disgraced financier's alleged criminal activities and the potential for undiscovered evidence or victims. The property's new owner, former Texas state senator Don Huffines, has announced plans to turn it into a Christian retreat, raising questions about the future of the site.
The details
Officials have urged the public to stay away from the property and stop any drone activity in the area to avoid interfering with the ongoing law enforcement operation. Torrez reopened the investigation into the ranch in mid-February upon reviewing documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice in the final tranche of Epstein files. At the center of the investigation is a 2019 email from an anonymous sender that alleged two foreign girls who died 'by strangulation during rough, fetish sex' had been buried in the hills near the ranch.
- The search of Zorro Ranch began on Monday, March 10, 2026.
- Torrez reopened the investigation into the ranch in mid-February 2026.
The players
Raúl Torrez
The Democratic Attorney General of New Mexico who directed the search of Zorro Ranch and has reopened the investigation into alleged criminal activity at the property.
Don Huffines
The former Texas state senator who purchased Zorro Ranch in 2023 and plans to turn it into a Christian retreat.
Jeffrey Epstein
The convicted sex offender who previously owned Zorro Ranch, the focus of the ongoing investigation.
What they’re saying
“To the survivors: Your voices and your stories matter. What you choose to share and entrust with law enforcement in New Mexico will directly aid in this investigation, and we want to hear directly from you over the weeks and months ahead.”
— Raúl Torrez, New Mexico Attorney General (Santa Fe New Mexican)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow further access to the property for the ongoing investigation.
The takeaway
This search of Epstein's former ranch reignites concerns about the disgraced financier's alleged criminal activities and the potential for undiscovered evidence or victims. The investigation will likely continue to uncover more details about the property's history and Epstein's connections to it.
