SANTA FE – Investigators began searching the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch in New Mexico on Monday, March 9, 2026, following a renewed push by state authorities to examine his conduct at the remote property about 50km (30 miles) south of Santa Fe.
The operation was announced after the release of millions of investigative files drew fresh attention to Epstein’s activities at the ranch, according to state officials. The search is being conducted under state criminal and civil authority and in parallel with ongoing federal oversight stemming from Epstein’s earlier prosecutions.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez ordered a renewed review in February 2026, years after the state closed an earlier inquiry in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors. In addition to reopening investigative avenues, Torrez has framed the effort as part of a broader attempt to restore public confidence after years of criticism over how the case was handled nationally and in the state court system. State lawmakers have also opened a bipartisan “truth commission” with subpoena powers to reexamine Epstein’s activities in New Mexico, signaling a rare alignment between the executive and legislative branches on how aggressively to revisit the case.
What authorities have said about Monday’s search
In a public notice, the New Mexico Department of Justice asked people to avoid the area during the law-enforcement action and to refrain from flying drones nearby.
“We urge the public to please stay away from the area and ground any drone activity nearby to avoid interfering with the ongoing law enforcement operation,” the New Mexico Department of Justice said in a statement. “The New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead.”
Officials did not disclose the scope of the search, what investigators are seeking, or which specific state or federal statutes may ultimately be implicated, citing the ongoing nature of the operation. Authorities emphasized that any evidentiary material recovered at the ranch would be subject to standard chain-of-custody rules and court oversight.
Why Zorro Ranch remains central to the case record
Epstein owned the property from 1993 until his death in 2019, which followed his indictment on sex trafficking charges. Accusers – including the late Virginia Giuffre – have said they suffered abuse at the ranch, though Epstein was never charged with crimes tied specifically to the site while he was alive.
The ranch has long figured in civil lawsuits and investigative reporting as a key logistical hub in Epstein’s network of properties, alongside holdings in Florida, New York, and the US Virgin Islands. Its isolation, private airstrip and restricted access have raised persistent questions about who visited and what law enforcement did – or failed to do – during the years Epstein controlled the site.
Key known milestones:
– 1993: Epstein acquires and begins owning the ranch property.
– 2019: New Mexico closes a state investigation at the request of federal prosecutors; Epstein dies that year after being indicted on sex trafficking charges.
– February 2026: Attorney General Raul Torrez orders a renewed review of Epstein matters in the state.
– March 9, 2026: State investigators conduct a search at Zorro Ranch.
Files release triggered new scrutiny
State action followed the US Department of Justice’s latest release of files about Epstein, part of a broader effort to disclose investigative records from his prior federal cases and related inquiries. Those materials include numerous unsubstantiated – and in some instances implausible – tips involving Epstein and associates, reflecting both the volume of claims directed to law enforcement and the difficulty of separating credible information from rumor.
Among the items in the released files:
– An email from a purported former Zorro Ranch employee offering to sell videos that allegedly depicted Epstein abusing minors in exchange for one Bitcoin.
– A separate anonymous claim alleging that the bodies of two foreign girls were buried in hills outside the ranch on orders from Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Authorities have not validated those tips; they are contained within the files as allegations and have not been substantiated. Officials stressed that the current search is guided by evidentiary standards and legal thresholds, not by the mere presence of an allegation in the document cache.
Legal and institutional framework for the renewed efforts
Under New Mexico law, the Attorney General’s Office is empowered to initiate and lead state-level criminal and civil investigations, seek search warrants and other court orders, impanel grand juries, and coordinate with local sheriffs, state police and federal agencies as needed. More broadly, investigations into alleged sex trafficking and related crimes can intersect with federal law, including the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which serves as the primary national framework for prosecuting trafficking and supporting survivors through codified victim-protection measures and reporting requirements (Strategy C).
– Attorney General’s mandate: The renewed review allows Torrez’s office to revisit past charging decisions, assess whether potential state offenses – such as conspiracy, obstruction, or state-level trafficking or abuse statutes – were fully explored, and determine whether previously unavailable evidence or testimony now meets prosecutorial standards.
– Legislative “truth commission”: Lawmakers have formed a bipartisan panel with subpoena powers, enabling compulsory requests for documents and testimony relevant to Epstein’s activities in New Mexico. While the commission cannot on its own bring criminal charges, its hearings and findings are expected to inform possible legislative reforms on issues such as statute-of-limitations rules for sexual abuse, state oversight of remote high-security properties, and coordination protocols between state and federal authorities.
To help readers and survivors follow the process, the New Mexico Department of Justice has also expanded its online public-information portal on high-profile investigations, offering basic explanations of investigative stages and how survivors can interface with victim-services units (Strategy D).
Location, access and operational constraints
Zorro Ranch lies roughly 30 miles south of Santa Fe. Officials emphasized that the active operation requires a secure perimeter and that outside interference – including drone flights – could disrupt evidence handling and officer safety.
Law-enforcement experts note that remote searches of this scale typically involve ground teams, forensic specialists and, where warranted, aerial surveys, all of which are subject to judicially approved search parameters. Any physical remains, digital devices or archival material discovered at the site would be processed under rules designed to ensure they are admissible in court and accessible for defense review.
What survivors and the public have been told
The New Mexico Department of Justice said it will provide appropriate updates and expressed support for survivors while emphasizing the need to preserve the integrity of the operation. Officials have encouraged anyone with first-hand information about Epstein’s activities in the state to contact investigators through established reporting channels rather than approach the ranch or attempt to collect evidence themselves.
As of Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the law-enforcement search at Zorro Ranch was in progress, and officials had asked the public to steer clear of the area and to ground drones during the operation. Authorities have not provided a timeline for when the search will conclude or when any preliminary findings might be made public, underscoring that the review of Epstein’s legacy in New Mexico is entering a new, open-ended phase rather than nearing closure.
