ISTANBUL

Authorities in New Mexico began searching the former ranch of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Monday in what could be the first thorough examination of allegations of abuse involving women and girls at the property.

The investigation of the estate, known as Zorro Ranch, is part of a renewed effort by state officials to examine the late financier’s activities in New Mexico, which they say were never fully investigated.

New Mexico Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury said the state’s justice department was leaving "no stone unturned" in the search.

She added on US social media platform X: "Epstein survivors have waited for far too long for justice and New Mexico is leading the way in the pursuit of truth and accountability."

"This search is part of the criminal investigation announced by the New Mexico Department of Justice on February 19th into allegations of illegal activity at Epstein’s ranch prior to Epstein’s 2019 death," the New Mexico Justice Department said on its website.

It remains unclear which areas of the ranch were searched or how long the operation is expected to continue.

After Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 death in a New York jail – where he was awaiting sex trafficking charges following a 2008 conviction for soliciting minors – new allegations surfaced regarding his activities at his ranch.

A woman known as Jane Doe 15 came forward to accuse Epstein of raping her at the property when she was 15 years old. Additionally, Annie Farmer alleged that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s now-convicted associate, also sexually abused her at the ranch during her teens.

Victims say Epstein abused and trafficked people at Zorro Ranch, which federal authorities may have largely overlooked. New Mexico is investigating, and lawmakers last month created a bipartisan four-member “truth commission” with subpoena power to examine the ranch.

The search comes as the late Epstein continues to make headlines. Last year the US Congress passed a law requiring that the federal Justice Department release all files related to Epstein, with redactions to protect the survivors and victims.

After a delay, the department on Jan. 30 released what it said were the last of the files. Survivors of Epstein and the relatives of his victims, however, blasted the release, saying it was far from complete, had omitted much relevant material about alleged offenders, and also exposed the names and some naked photographs of victims.

Since then, some additional interviews have been released, but survivors and their lawyers have vowed court action to force a full release, allowing indictments of those alleged to have taken part in illegal activities.