Juliette Bryant, a South African survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking network, shares fragmented memories of abuse and control at his Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. The estate served as both a site of isolation for victims and a gathering place for elites. New Mexico senators are now pushing for a state truth commission to uncover the full extent of activities there.
Jeffrey Epstein purchased Zorro Ranch in 1993 for about R120-million, transforming the 3,200-hectare property in northern New Mexico—located 24km northwest of Dulce and 320km from Roswell—into a secluded fortress. The estate featured restricted movements, a concentric heliport resembling rituals, and a cowboy-themed village with a saloon and cabins, creating a controlled environment.
Juliette Bryant, recruited in Cape Town between 2002 and 2004, described terrifying experiences: 'Things happened there that scared me so deeply I still can’t even talk about them.' She recalled an invasive pelvic examination by Epstein, waking in a laboratory amid people in hazmat suits, and disorienting memory gaps. Unlike her clearer recollections from Epstein's island, she could not remember her sleeping quarters at the ranch. 'It was as though I was being primed for something even darker,' she said, noting Epstein's shift from direct assault to constant monitoring.
Beyond abuse, Zorro Ranch attracted influential figures. Visitors reportedly included former Prince Andrew in the early 2000s, linked to alleged sexual abuse in survivor testimony; former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, whom Bryant visited at his mansion without accusing him of assault; Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn; Hollywood director Michael Bay, present according to Bryant but not accused; and the Clintons, recalled by staff but denied by their office with no confirming logs.
Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker attended salons where Epstein posed as an intellectual, though Pinker called him an 'intellectual impostor… a kibitzer and a dilettante.' Epstein pitched bizarre plans, like using the ranch as a 'baby farm' to impregnate women with his DNA to 'seed the human race,' though no evidence shows implementation.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's partner, coordinated helicopter transports to the ranch as a licensed pilot, but no extensive flight records exist unlike the Lolita Express.
In response, New Mexico senators Andrea Romero and Marianna Anaya propose a bipartisan five-member truth commission with subpoena powers for an 18-month investigation costing up to R50-million. This aims to address gaps in records amid federal delays under the 2025 Epstein Transparency Act, where over a million files remain unreviewed and President Donald Trump's name appears most frequently.
Bryant highlighted ongoing trauma: 'The documents, emails and Epstein’s image are thrown in our faces every day, which is retraumatising.' She noted deaths of victims Virginia Giuffre, Carolyn Andriano, and Leigh Skye Patrick, suggesting deeper issues beyond trafficking. The ranch sold in August 2023 to an unknown company.
