New Mexico officials have initiated two investigations into alleged criminal activity at the former Zorro Ranch, a sprawling property once owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein located in the high desert outside Santa Fe. The renewed scrutiny follows decades of suspicions and allegations of abuse at the remote 10,000-acre estate.
The state attorney general's office announced in February that it was reopening an investigation previously closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York. The New Mexico justice department subsequently conducted a search of the vast property utilizing search and rescue dogs to examine the grounds.
In addition to the criminal investigation, the state House unanimously established the Truth Commission in February to examine systemic issues surrounding Epstein's presence in New Mexico. Democratic state Representative Andrea Romero of Santa Fe, who leads the commission, explained its broader mandate during an interview at the state capitol.
"We don't know. I mean, that's just it. If that wasn't the case, then what was the case? What happened here?" Romero said. "We know that there are survivors that were on the record reporting abuse. Why did their case never make it to the state nor federal government to hold that to account in some way, shape or form."
The commission received funding of two million dollars from settlements New Mexico reached with a bank that conducted business with Epstein. Romero indicated the commission possesses subpoena power and will compel testimony if necessary. The body has already received numerous tips and compiled a list of former ranch employees, possible co-conspirators, and residents of Stanley, the nearest town to the property.
"We're a living community of folks that knew people that worked there, that saw this guy parading around town, where he did yoga, where he grocery shopped," Romero said. "This is a community that knew about these folks living here."
Republican state Representative Andrea Reeb, also serving on the commission, emphasized the bipartisan nature of the effort. "I think everybody wants to know what happened, and everybody, of course, has sympathy for the survivors and the victims that aren't around anymore," Reeb said. "But everyone just wants to know the truth."
The investigations gained momentum following a rally on International Women's Day in March, when hundreds of protesters gathered at the former ranch site. Among the demonstrators was Sky Roberts, brother of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's most prominent accusers who died by suicide in 2025. Giuffre had alleged she was sexually abused at the ranch.
"This is what we need to see more of state by state. I think New Mexico is taking the first initiative. I think the people of New Mexico are demanding answers, they're demanding justice," Roberts told the crowd. "It starts here and there's so much more that we can continue to fight for."
The Zorro Ranch property, which housed a mansion, an airstrip, and 10,000 acres of scrubland, has been the subject of suspicions for decades. Court documents place some of the earliest accusations of abuse at the ranch, and there have been unverified claims, including speculation about bodies buried on the grounds. The property was part of Epstein's real estate portfolio that also included a Manhattan mansion and a private Caribbean island.
The Truth Commission is scheduled to release its initial report on July 31. Roberts, contacted recently, expressed support for the state's efforts and stated that with sufficient investigation, the probes will reveal what he described as "the tragedies suffered" and deliver justice for survivors.
The dual investigations represent the most comprehensive official examination of alleged criminal activity at the ranch since Epstein's death in 2019. The outcome could provide answers to questions that have lingered in the community for years and potentially identify whether any individuals or institutions enabled Epstein's activities in New Mexico.
