A criminal investigation centered on the former Zorro Ranch has placed New Mexico at the center of a case with national implications, as state investigators search for evidence tied to alleged crimes at the remote property once owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
SANTA FE, N.M. — A criminal investigation centered on the former Zorro Ranch has placed New Mexico at the center of a case with national implications, as state investigators search for evidence tied to alleged crimes at the remote property once owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The criminal investigation, which is separate from the Truth Commissions led by lawmakers, is being conducted by the New Mexico Department of Justice under Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
Inside the search
For the first time, 4 Investigates obtained a look inside the criminal investigation through the bodycam footage of the NMDOJ agents as they moved through the sprawling estate.
Shortly after 6:30 a.m. on March 9, investigators gathered outside the main residence to coordinate their approach, discussing plans to document the mansion and outbuildings before beginning a systematic search.
Rooms were assigned identifiers. Investigative packets were distributed. Evidence documentation procedures were reviewed before agents began moving through the property.
Over the next 13 hours, doors were opened, rooms were catalogued, and photographs were taken. Drawers, furniture and storage areas were examined as investigators worked methodically through the estate.
Investigators focused on whether items found on the property could be traced to Epstein’s ownership.
The NMDOJ has not released any video to show how dogs were used or if any subterranean searches were carried out. The Sandoval County K-9 Team assisted in the search, but they have not said how they were used.
Consent and legal limits
Representatives for the property’s current owner, Texas businessman Don Huffines, remained on site throughout the search.
Bodycam footage shows someone emphasized that consent agreements governing the search operation would have to be followed before any intrusive searches or evidence seizures could occur. Discussions involving attorneys were required before carpets could be removed or property seized.
Investigators also discussed body-worn camera recordings during the operation, noting when the cameras should be turned off.
New Mexico’s public records law allows law enforcement to heavily redact or digitally obscure bodycam footage before charges are filed.
Torrez has not promised his investigation will lead to criminal charges, but he said, “we are working very hard to put together a complete account of what happened at Zorro Ranch.”
By the numbers
- More than 13 hours were spent searching the former Zorro Ranch.
- More than 100 tips have been submitted through the attorney general’s online portal.
- The Epstein files revealed photographs and videos collected through previous investigations, many at Zorro Ranch.
- Millions of pages of Epstein-related records have been redacted and published.
What investigators are seeking
At the conclusion of the search, evidence documentation was provided to representatives of the property.
Investigators, however, indicated that the most significant evidence may not be located at the ranch itself.
Torrez said additional information from potential survivors remains critical to the investigation. Many tips submitted to the state have come from members of the public calling for additional searches of the property, including the use of cadaver dogs. Other submissions remain redacted to protect the identities of potential victims.
The attorney general’s office continues to seek access to unredacted Epstein files to corroborate witness accounts and evaluate investigative leads.
When asked whether those records would be shared with state investigators, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Ryan Ellison said he anticipated “full cooperation.”
The investigation remains ongoing as New Mexico authorities attempt to determine whether evidence of criminal activity can be substantiated at the former ranch.
