Epstein Files: Court Records, People and Connections

Reaching the island

The island has no airport. Visitors reached Little Saint James by boat or helicopter. Records describe transfers through St. Thomas, boat departures from nearby islands and marinas, and visits by people already sailing in the Virgin Islands. A WIRED investigation traced device movements between American Yacht Harbor and the island dock during 2016–2019. These are route connections, not reconstructed GPS flight tracks.

1. WIRED, March 28, 2024 — American Yacht Harbor transfer route investigation

March 2006: the scientists’ excursion

Scientists attending a physics conference took a short boat trip to Little Saint James for a barbecue picnic. NPR’s reporting identifies Stephen Hawking and includes island recollections from Alan Guth and Jim Peebles. Peebles described arriving at the beach and being met by a guide. The reviewed account supplies no individual passenger manifest or vessel name.

1. NPR, March 10, 2026 — Scientists describe the 2006 conference and island excursion

2010, 2011 and 2015: Jes Staley

The Upper Tribunal recorded a January 15, 2010 email exchange about Staley’s arrival and visit; he accepted that he apparently met Epstein on the island before sailing onward to Norman Island. In January 2011, Staley was sailing aboard his boat near Christmas Cove. Epstein arranged an island tour while absent. On April 12, 2015, Staley and his family visited for lunch after traveling to the Caribbean on Epstein’s plane and then sailing to the island. These visits are recorded in the tribunal’s account of their relationship.

1. Staley v FCA, [2025] UKUT 00203 (TCC), June 26, 2025, pp. 26–27, 35, 42

2012: Howard Lutnick

Lutnick acknowledged an island lunch with his family in 2012. He told lawmakers they had been aboard a boat nearby. Reuters reported that the lunch lasted about two hours. The reviewed testimony does not specify a departure marina or the boat’s name.

1. Reuters, May 6, 2026 — Lutnick testimony

November 2014: Reid Hoffman and Joi Ito

Hoffman and Ito visited Little Saint James in November 2014. Scheduling correspondence arranged helicopter transportation. On November 29, Epstein wrote that he had arrived with both men. Records also place them on the subsequent Boston-bound flight. The travel sequence connects Florida, St. Thomas, the island and Boston; individual transfer times remain itinerary details.

1. The Wall Street Journal — Hoffman and Ito island helicopter arrangements
2. The Harvard Crimson, February 1, 2026 — November 2014 travel records

November 30, 2014: Lisa Randall’s return flight

The Harvard Crimson reported Randall on the St. Thomas-to-Boston passenger manifest and described a proposed noon boat pickup at Cruz Bay, followed by an island stop and helicopter transfer. A separate document analysis identifies her request to meet at the airport using an already-arranged ferry instead. The flight is documented in the reporting; which transfer route she completed remains unresolved. The island leg is therefore retained as a proposed itinerary.

1. The Harvard Crimson, February 1, 2026 — November 2014 travel records
2. Document analysis identifying competing airport-transfer request, EFTA00680046

January 16, 2018: construction-team itinerary

Emails arranged a professional visit by Russell Hernandez, architect Brian Brown, project manager Mark Lubinate and construction manager Pedro Casanova. Aircraft N402AJ was expected at St. Thomas Jet Center around 10:15 a.m. Driver Jermaine would take the group to Red Hook, where Captain Randy would bring them to the Little Saint James dock. Return travel was planned through San Juan, with an evening JetBlue flight to New York. The Cornell Daily Sun reports a January visit, but its linked travel document is a planning email. The detailed route remains labeled as planned. Names follow the released document transcription.

1. EFTA02234539, pp. 1–6 — January 2018 itinerary, mirrored document text
2. The Cornell Daily Sun, February 14, updated February 19, 2026 — Russell Hernandez

The people operating the transfers

Water-taxi captain Guy Dohm told Inside Edition that he transported Epstein to the island. The January 2018 correspondence identifies Ann Rodriquez and Daphne Wallace as island managers, Jermaine Ruan as driver and IT manager, and Captain Randy as the boat-transfer contact. These are operational roles. Indexed boat logs also describe staff and supply runs; those entries have not been converted into a guest list.

1. Inside Edition, August 19, 2025 — Boat captain Guy Dohm interview
2. EFTA02234539, pp. 1–6 — January 2018 itinerary, mirrored document text

Sources and method

Reviewed September 27, 2026. This report began with Explorvia’s saved Epstein locations, connections and flight records, followed by a bounded review of a court judgment, released-email transcriptions and attributed reporting. Completed visits, scheduled travel and unresolved routes are distinguished. Some original PDFs were inaccessible. Private victim identities are excluded. The records establish several dated journeys and transfer arrangements; a complete visitor manifest remains unavailable from this review.

Flights and ground access

The ranch had its own runway. Trial testimony describes a twin-engine Cessna 421 photographed there and estimates Epstein visited five or six times yearly. The pilot described a road entrance off Highway 41, staff housing, offices and accommodation for guests and flight crew. CBS also reported airport arrivals followed by driving. These records describe different access methods, rather than one universal transfer route.

1. Maxwell trial transcript, EFTA00068582, pp. 22–25 (printed pp. 141–144), mirrored text
2. CBS News, August 31, 2019 — Zorro Ranch transportation accounts

November 2009: Jes Staley

The Upper Tribunal judgment records Staley visiting the ranch in November 2009. He said the opportunity arose while traveling toward Albuquerque for business. Epstein was absent. The original plan included his wife and an overnight stay; the judgment says Staley went alone and did not stay overnight. His email from the ranch described using the hot tub. The record does not identify his airport-to-ranch vehicle or establish a banking purpose for the visit.

1. Staley v FCA, June 26, 2025, printed pp. 26–27

Bill Richardson

Associated Press identifies former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson among the ranch’s visitors. This reviewed report supplies neither a dated transfer itinerary nor an airport-to-ranch vehicle. The entry records the reported visit without assigning an unsupported journey.

1. Associated Press, February 2026 — New Mexico reopens ranch investigation

Leon Black: helicopter-transfer lead

The Footnote reports that Leon and Debra Black arrived at Santa Fe airport aboard aircraft N624N and transferred to the ranch by helicopter. Its underlying travel documents were not retrieved in this review. This remains an attributed transportation lead, not a verified completed route.

1. The Footnote — Leon Black at Zorro (underlying transfer records awaiting verification)

Abuse accounts and the investigation

Reuters reported that the August 2026 legislative interim report described at least five women and girls abused at Zorro Ranch between 1996 and 2012. Victim identities are not included here. On March 9, 2026, New Mexico DOJ announced a property search assisted by State Police and the Sandoval County Fire and Rescue K-9 team.

1. Reuters, August 5, 2026 — Ranch investigation and interim commission report
2. New Mexico DOJ, March 9, 2026 — Search of former Zorro Ranch

Burial allegation

Reuters reported that New Mexico investigators were examining a 2019 anonymous email alleging that two girls had been buried outside the ranch. The message went to radio host Eddy Aragon; the sender offered purported evidence for a bitcoin payment. State investigators requested the unredacted email. This is an allegation under investigation. No official confirmation of recovered human remains was located in this review.

1. Reuters, February 19, updated February 20, 2026 — Burial allegation under investigation
2. New Mexico DOJ, March 9, 2026 — Search of former Zorro Ranch

Access to records

In August 2026, New Mexico DOJ sued the federal government seeking unredacted Epstein investigative records for its ranch inquiry. The dispute concerns access to evidence and identities needed by investigators. The full commission report could not be retrieved during this bounded review; statements about it here are attributed to Reuters.

1. New Mexico DOJ, August 5, 2026 — Lawsuit seeking unredacted investigative records
2. Reuters, August 5, 2026 — Ranch investigation and interim commission report

Sources and method

Reviewed September 27, 2026. Research began with Explorvia’s saved ranch record, then examined trial-transcript text, a tribunal judgment, official New Mexico announcements and reporting. Visitors, transport personnel, proposed journeys and unresolved allegations are kept distinct. Exact transfer dates, vehicles and passenger manifests remain missing for several visits. The available record supports a ranch account covering access, documented visitors and the ongoing investigation.

Existing record

Primary site of the 2005 local investigation and conduct later described in federal charging records. Local police investigation ultimately led to FBI involvement.

1. SDNY — Epstein 2019 charges
2. DOJ Epstein Library
3. Property location reference Coordinates / public property address; location only

2013: Mette-Marit’s stay

Reuters reported that Mette-Marit stayed at the Palm Beach house for four days during a private trip in 2013. In March 2026 she expressed regret over their friendship and said she had been manipulated and deceived. She has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing.

1. Reuters — Mette-Marit interview, March 20, 2026

2002–2005: conduct described in the indictment

The July 2019 indictment alleges that Epstein paid underage girls for sexual acts and paid some to recruit others at his Palm Beach and New York homes.

1. SDNY — July 8, 2019 charges

March 2013: flight to Palm Beach

Gates testified that he flew with Epstein from New York to Palm Beach on March 1 or 2, 2013, in a Gulfstream. He said he was continuing to Wellington to see his daughter. He testified that he never visited Epstein’s Palm Beach home.

1. House Oversight — Bill Gates interview, June 10, 2026 Printed pp. 50–54, 113, 125–126

Sources and open questions

This update combines saved records with a brief review of official documents and attributed reporting. Testimony, reported stays and planned meetings retain their stated status. Visitor lists, exact dates and transfer records remain incomplete. Reviewed September 27, 2026.

Existing record

Major Epstein residence and a location described in federal charges and later searches. 2019 search generated physical and digital evidence.

1. SDNY — Epstein 2019 charges
2. DOJ Epstein Library
3. Property location reference Coordinates / public property address; location only

Bill Gates: Manhattan dinners

In his June 10, 2026 interview, Gates identified a May 2, 2011 dinner at Epstein’s residence. He also recalled a February 27, 2013 dinner with Terje Rød-Larsen and Thorbjørn Jagland, followed by David Blaine performing magic tricks.

1. House Oversight — Bill Gates interview, June 10, 2026 Printed pp. 50–54, 113, 125–126

July 2019: federal investigation

The federal indictment describes alleged recruitment and abuse at the New York and Palm Beach residences during 2002–2005. A DOJ search attachment identifies compact discs seized at 9 East 71st Street on or about July 7, 2019.

1. SDNY — July 8, 2019 charges
2. DOJ — search attachment EFTA00020130 Indexed attachment identifying seized discs; full document access requires DOJ age verification

Ariane de Rothschild: meeting correspondence

Reuters reported correspondence arranging meetings at Epstein’s New York and Paris homes. Attendance was not established in that review. Her bank said he was a business acquaintance and that she had no knowledge of his crimes.

1. Reuters — Ariane de Rothschild correspondence, February 5, 2026

Terje Rød-Larsen · February 27, 2013

Gates recalled Terje Rød-Larsen attending the February 27, 2013 dinner at Epstein’s Manhattan residence. This account appears in Gates’ June 10, 2026 House Oversight interview, printed pages 50–51.

1. House Oversight — Bill Gates interview, June 10, 2026 Printed pp. 50–54, 113, 125–126

Thorbjørn Jagland · February 27, 2013

Gates recalled Thorbjørn Jagland attending the February 27, 2013 dinner at Epstein’s Manhattan residence. This account appears in Gates’ June 10, 2026 House Oversight interview, printed pages 50–51.

1. House Oversight — Bill Gates interview, June 10, 2026 Printed pp. 50–54, 113, 125–126

David Blaine · February 27, 2013

Gates recalled David Blaine performing magic tricks after the February 27, 2013 dinner at Epstein’s Manhattan residence. This account appears in Gates’ June 10, 2026 House Oversight interview, printed pages 50–51.

1. House Oversight — Bill Gates interview, June 10, 2026 Printed pp. 50–54, 113, 125–126

Sources and open questions

This update combines saved records with a brief review of official documents and attributed reporting. Testimony, reported stays and planned meetings retain their stated status. Visitor lists, exact dates and transfer records remain incomplete. Reviewed September 27, 2026.

2013: Bill Gates’ meeting

Gates testified that he spent an afternoon at Epstein’s Paris apartment in 2013 discussing possible philanthropic fundraising. He recalled staff being present and thought Boris Nikolic was there. He described one Paris meeting.

1. House Oversight — Bill Gates interview, June 10, 2026 Printed pp. 50–54, 113, 125–126

March 20, 2019: proposed meeting

Emails reported by Reuters on February 5, 2026 arranged a Paris meeting with Ariane de Rothschild for March 20, 2019. Reuters could not confirm attendance. Her bank said she knew Epstein as a business acquaintance and had no knowledge of his crimes.

1. Reuters — Ariane de Rothschild correspondence, February 5, 2026

September 2019: apartment and agency searches

Reuters reported that police searched the Paris apartment on September 23, 2019, after searching Karin Models on September 17. Jean-Luc Brunel co-founded the modeling agency.

1. Reuters — Paris property and modeling-agency searches, September 24, 2019

February 2026: renewed French investigations

French prosecutors announced inquiries into human trafficking and financial offenses following the release of U.S. records. Reuters reported that five prosecutors would examine material for potential involvement of French nationals.

1. Reuters — French investigations, February 18, 2026

Sources and open questions

This update combines saved records with a brief review of official documents and attributed reporting. Testimony, reported stays and planned meetings retain their stated status. Visitor lists, exact dates and transfer records remain incomplete. Reviewed September 27, 2026.

2016: acquisition records

The Virgin Islands complaint identifies Great St. Jim LLC and property acquired in January 2016. The saved records identify the company with the island’s acquisition and ownership.

1. USVI second amended complaint, filed as federal court exhibit Indexed purchase-parcel record; full PDF requires age verification

December 2022: settlement terms

The estate settlement provided $450,000 for environmental remediation around Great Saint James. The government reported destruction of historical structures associated with enslaved workers. The agreement required sale of both islands and provision of documents for ongoing investigations.

1. USVI Department of Justice — estate settlement, December 1, 2022

Sources and open questions

This update combines saved records with a brief review of official documents and attributed reporting. Testimony, reported stays and planned meetings retain their stated status. Visitor lists, exact dates and transfer records remain incomplete. Reviewed September 27, 2026.