New allegations tied to Jeffrey Epstein's remote New Mexico estate have drawn renewed scrutiny to one of the least-examined aspects of his network, as a state-backed investigation with subpoena power begins probing claims that were never fully pursued by federal authorities.
The controversy intensified following a broadcast by 60 Minutes Australia, in which Epstein survivor Chauntae Davies described conditions at the 7,600-acre Zorro Ranch and recounted conversations she said she overheard involving efforts to create "the perfect baby from the perfect gene pool." The claims have not been independently verified, and no charges have been filed in connection with them.
Davies, speaking to reporter Tara Brown, described the environment at the ranch as tightly controlled. "There was a lot of time being in my room like a mouse in a trap, waiting for a knock on the door and for someone to say, 'Jeffrey is ready for his massage now,'" she said. She added that such summonses resulted in sexual assault.
She further stated: "I remember overhearing conversations about creating the perfect baby from the perfect gene pool," and added, "There is another account of a baby actually being born, and Ghislaine taking it." Those assertions remain unverified and have not been substantiated by investigators.
The allegations echo earlier reporting by The New York Times, which in 2019 cited individuals who said Epstein had expressed interest in "seed the human race with his DNA by impregnating women at his vast New Mexico ranch." The publication noted at the time there was no evidence such plans were carried out.
The renewed focus comes as New Mexico has established a bipartisan Truth Commission to investigate activities at the ranch. The initiative was authorized through a unanimous vote of the state House in February 2026, allocating approximately $2 million in funding and granting subpoena authority to compel testimony and documents.
Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said earlier inquiries were halted at the request of federal prosecutors. "During that time, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York asked that we pause any further state investigation or prosecution of activity related to Epstein, as they communicated to us that they were leading an active multi-jurisdictional prosecution," he said.
The commission, chaired by Andrea Romero, has begun examining evidence that was not previously pursued. Melanie Stansbury said the state intervention reflects dissatisfaction with federal handling of the case, stating: "New Mexico is acting where the federal government is failing to do so."
Investigators have now conducted a formal search of the property, which had not been fully examined following Epstein's 2019 arrest and subsequent death. The current owners, who acquired the ranch in 2023 and are converting it into a Christian retreat, have said they are cooperating with authorities.
Additional claims referenced in the investigation include unverified accounts contained in FBI files. Stansbury described one allegation reviewed in unredacted documents, saying, "He describes in detail a scene in which multiple young men were raped at the ranch in front of him after he was drugged." The individual has not publicly come forward, and the account has not been corroborated.
Other material includes a 2019 anonymous email alleging deaths at the ranch, which the New Mexico Department of Justice has acknowledged exists but characterized as unsubstantiated. Requests for additional federal documentation have not received responses, according to state officials.
Multiple Epstein accusers, including Virginia Giuffre and Annie Farmer, have previously alleged abuse at the ranch, with testimony in related cases describing coercive sexual activity on the property. Despite those claims, no comprehensive federal investigation of the site was completed at the time.
