(The Center Square) – Over the past month, hundreds of New Mexico protesters have gathered outside of the ranch property previously owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein near Stanley, New Mexico. Texas businessman Don Huffines secretly purchased it in 2023 and the ownership was only made public last month after he and his wife contested property taxes.
Protests and vigils are ongoing after the state conducted its first search on the property. Local residents and the New Mexico Land Office Commissioner have called for an investigation into the property for years. A multi-agency investigation was launched after Epstein files were released, including one file that alleges girls were trafficked to the property where they were tortured, raped and strangled to death.
One of the very first questions The Center Square asked Huffines was if he had proactively conducted a forensic search, brought cadaver dogs or invited law enforcement to conduct an investigation prior to or after he purchased the property. He and his political consultant Allen Blakemore, as well as one of his attorneys, Charlie Henry, did not respond to requests for comment. The answer from state authorities was that Huffines had not.
Huffines told a social media influencer it was his “understanding that they had done all the investigation they needed to do on the ranch. I’m sure they did,” prior to his purchase. He also said he would comply with law enforcement, if asked.
No law enforcement searches were conducted prior to or after the Huffines purchase, state authorities confirmed to The Center Square, until this month. State lawmakers launched an investigation last month establishing a Truth Commission. Attorney General Raul Torrez relaunched an investigation into the ranch after his predecessor’s investigation was halted by the first Trump administration in 2019, The Center Square first reported.
Torrez directed a search “of the Zorro Ranch property previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein, with the New Mexico State Police and Sandoval County Fire and Rescue K-9 team providing assistance.” He said the Huffines were cooperating with his investigation and granted access to the property for the first search.
He’s also “seeking credible information from members of the public who may have knowledge relevant to events that occurred” there related to crimes committed at the ranch and statewide. Tips may be submitted online.
While South Texas ranchers who’ve dealt with border crises for years have taken proactive approaches to working with law enforcement, New Mexico residents argue the same should have been true in New Mexico. Unlike Texas, New Mexico didn’t implement border security measures. As the border crisis worsened, Republican state lawmakers came to Texas to learn what they could do, The Center Square reported.
New Mexicans have been holding vigils and protests outside of the Huffines property for several weeks. At the last one, Kimberly Wahpepah, a sexual abuse survivor and advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, spoke with red handprints on her face.
She said to the owner of the ranch “who calls himself a Christian, the Christian thing to do is to do the right thing. Stop protecting wickedness. Stop protecting these pedophiles. Stop protecting so-called perpetrators.”
“We came out here to memorialize, to gather in prayer, to remember and to continue to advocate for the victims that have been here, and to call out the perpetrators for their crimes,” state Rep. Tara Lujan, D-Santa Fe, also said.
Several large crosses are erected outside of the property. They state, “We demand justice. Always remember. Investigate.” One sign states, “Justice 4 all victims of sexual violence is overdue.” Another sign states, “Search the ranch,” with red painted handprints representing bloody hands. Blankets, stuffed animals, candles and other mementos are on the ground.
In Texas, Brooks County Sheriff Search and Recovery Deputy Don White told The Center Square he’d volunteer to help with recovery efforts. Roughly 1,000 bodies or the remains of bodies have been found in the county during three administrations. White has worked with multiple search and recovery teams for decades and says he knows where and how to search. Bones take about three years to decay if they are exposed to the elements and sun. At that point DNA can’t be found. But it can be with bones preserved in the soil, he says.
When asked if he’d go to New Mexico to help find missing victims’ remains, he said, “Absolutely. I’d do it on my own dime. My paramedic and tracker would also go.” He says he has a network of other canine trackers who’d also help.
Over the years, White has also been involved in reuniting families with their loved one’s remains. When asked why, he said, “finding bones is important. They belong with their families. It is important for families to have their loved ones back, for closure.”
“We don’t know how many children are buried out there and there’s only one way to find out,” he said.
Goliad County Sheriff Roy Boyd said it’s never too late to find justice for victims and their families. “Any property Jeffrey Epstein owned is considered a potential crime scene and evidence could still be found today. Time doesn’t mean anything if you’re getting justice for victims. Justice should be sought for victims and their families,” he told The Center Square.
