Prosecutors say he preyed on girls as young as 14 and paid some of them to become recruiters who provided him with a steady supply of victims in the early 2000s. The Wall Street Journal first reported the sale, citing the islands' listing agents. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Did it even matter what Epstein used the building for? But there was no ladder. "Even in the condition that I described it in it was sort of a temple," he said. But he is the only visitor to offer a plausible and chronologically sound account of the building's interior. The persistence of this mystery is especially remarkable given the intense public scrutiny of Epstein and his circle since his arrest in July. A small structure downhill from the building has led some to believe it serves as a second entrance and suggest that the space extends into an underground lair. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. She also said that they kept her passport so she couldnt leave a ruthless tactic they allegedly used in an attempt to hold more than one victim against their will. There is also a grass airstrip and hangar for when Epstein would fly in on his private plane. The piano-tuning industry is quite small, and while the piano tuner has a somewhat common name, I was unable to find a second piano tuner with the same name. We are officially canceling the leases with Zorro Ranch and Cypress Inc., state Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard told local KRQE station at the time. Most notorious is Epsteins island, commonly referred to as pedo island, where victims have described in detail trying to swim off the shore in shark-infested water, almost drowning to escape the abuse they faced at the hands of Epstein and his colleagues. A look inside Jeffrey Epstein's real-estate portfolio, from the Florida and NYC mansions where sex trafficking reportedly took place to the private island in the Caribbean that was raided by the FBI. The video then reveals that two doors on the temple were actually fake and painted on, and that Epstein has his initials daubed on the structure. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. One might think their job is about informing readers, or speaking truth to power, or helping people live better lives, or bringing about societal change, and so on. By mid-August, after speaking to the piano tuner who never tuned Epstein's piano, I was blocked and bewildered. Jeffrey Epstein Private Island Video Shows Temple, Creepy A shark would have been my best friend at that point. Lifestyle / News / Our Obsessions. A small building on Little St. James, the Caribbean island estate of Jeffrey Epstein. Conspiracy theorists have suggested that the temple was either a secluded setting for Epsteins abuse or that it concealed a hidden underground location for the same purpose. More than two decades ago, Little St. James Island, a small part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, began to change in ways that the locals on neighboring islands regarded with suspicion. I had other doubts too. The bizarre blue-striped building on Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island was supposed to be a music pavilion with a strikingly different design, according to permit records viewed by NBC News. According to the New York Post, the stop-work order was ignored, and construction on the island continued. (Dershowitz claims that he has never met Ransome). 10 Things You Dont Have to Pay Full Price for This Week. The island, which is near St. Thomas in the Caribbean, is only But it's why I do it. The outlandish temple, with no clear history or purpose, provided the perfect detail: an otherwise minor plot element that promised to illuminate the whole story. The men briefly rifled through a number of dumpsters on the island, capturing footage of items like crates, suitcases, picture frames, and buckets. The island's southwestern corner features an unusual blue-and-white-striped building that resembles a temple or place of worship. The island has two bays, is covering in lush green vegetation and is surrounded by crystal clear waters. The estate of Jeffrey Epstein the convicted sex offender who died in 2019 awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges still owns Epsteins islands, at last report. But the ownership of the two U.S. Virgin Island properties, the islands of Little St. James and Great St, James, could change soon. Still, the boat captains are mistaken. Couple discovers seven-foot bees nest behind bathroom show J. Little St. James is the Caribbean island formerly owned by Jeffrey Epstein. Footage appears to shows Prince Andrew inside Jeffrey Epstein's New York residence in 2010. To support his account, Baron provided three phone numbers, one for Karen and two for Monique, that he used to call them in 2012. The two Virgin Islands properties, Little St. James and Great St. James, were at the center of Epstein's sexual abuse lawsuit: Days after Epstein's death, the FBI raided Little St. Jamesto search for evidence pertaining to the case against him. An altar to an ancient deity. The assumption that Epstein acted according to a certain logic, and that that logic could be ascertained through research and reporting, seemed less and less certain. Furthermore, in his interview with ABC News, Scully said that he frequently saw groups of girls who couldnt have been more than 15 or 16 years old riding ATVs and bathing topless. He would allegedly host a slew of powerful men, including Prince Andrew, there. Deals from Dermstore, NuFace, Tibi, and more. But questions remain over whether it was built according to the plans that were submitted to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. But when I called that piano tuner, he told me: "I've never been to Jeffrey Epstein's private island. Now the spotlight is on three other deaths that are linked to the case. Then I tried to put the whole story out of my mind. While the purpose of the temple is unknown, one possibility is that it had served as a place for the classically trained Epstein to practice piano workers described it as a music room with acoustic walls and a grand piano inside, as the AP reports. become of Epsteins sprawling properties. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider One framed photo of Maxwell and Epstein smooching was found by Palm Beach police inside the home there during a 2005 raid, according to photos of the operation submitted as evidence. According to Baron's notes, it was manufactured by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, whose piano-manufacturing operations were acquired by Baldwin Piano Company in 1988. In 2021, Gates said in an interview that it was a "huge mistake" to spend time with Epstein and indicated he had only met with him in an attempt to raise money for global health issues. It suddenly occurred to me that he could have tuned a piano in one of the other buildings on Little St. James. No stairs, no elevator. On its website, the foundation says it was established to "support cutting edge science and science education around the world." She filed the lawsuit with the superior court in the US Virgin Islands. But as Schapiro acknowledged, the building substantially deviates from the blueprints, which describe an octagonal structure surrounded by a covered porch, with internal partitions for a bathroom, a closet, and a living room. The GOP has introduced more than 20 bills targeting drag shows this year alone. After a trial that began on November 29, Maxwell was found guilty of five charges, including sex trafficking of a minor. Yet here was a seemingly solvable mystery for which I could not find a solution. At the start of her trial two weeks ago, her lawyers argued that she was a scapegoat who wasnt indicted until nearly a year after Epstein died in a federal jail while awaiting his own sex-trafficking trial. WebJeffrey had purchased Little St. James which was a roughly 75-acre private island in the Virgin Islands in 1998 for $7.95 million dollars. But even if the building's motif alludes to the sexual culture of a society that ended more than 1,400 years ago, Greek pederasty was a male phenomenon. "It's just a flat wall," Berwick said. Amid the lurid ongoing trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, who is charged with grooming many of late pedo-perv Jeffrey Epsteins victims, never-before-seen photos of the estates he shared with his lady of the house have come to light. After the golf-cart driver dropped him off, Baron entered the building. Walgreens Wont Distribute Abortion Pills in 20 States. 2015 defamation lawsuit filed against Maxwell, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. These are just a handful of the various theories sprouting from the discovery of a strange blue-and-white structure on Little St. James, the private Caribbean island once owned and inhabited by the financier Jeffrey Epstein. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider AG Denise Georges office had asked a judge to freeze his assets following an announcement that the administrator of the Epstein Victims Compensation Program would have to pause making claim offers since the estate couldnt currently replenish the fund. Investigators also found a taxidermied tiger and poodle in the house. Regarding the first: I was unable to find a historical example of Moloch being depicted as an owl, an idea that some authors have traced to "Dark Secrets Inside Bohemian Grove," a 2000 documentary filmed and produced by the radio fabulist Alex Jones. The document went on to describe the British socialite as highly intelligent and great company with a ready smile and an infectious laugh who puts people at ease. The royal has denied the claim. The accusers who have all spoken out have detailed the locations where they claim to have been subjected to rape and sexual torture. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Indeed, all the temple's external archways were illusions, painted on the building's featureless, flat surface as a trompe l'oeil: In a second video, Shackleford's drone captured a portion of the building's interior, seen through one of the side windows. According to Scully, though, the building is simply a gym. "The other thing I remember," the reader later added, "was the Golden Owl on the roof pointed in a certain direction and that had [some kind of] meaning. Read more: A look inside Jeffrey Epstein's real-estate portfolio, from the Florida and NYC mansions where sex trafficking reportedly took place to the private island in the Caribbean that was raided by the FBI. Wild rumors about child sacrifice and pagan symbolism were one thing; they came with the territory of the internet. It is surrounded by palm trees and a terrace with a labyrinth motif. But Vox reported in 2020 that a source close to the contribution said the donation sum was actually much smaller $6.5 million. Epstein bought the 72-acre Little St. Jamesfor $7.95 million in 1998. Footage showed a large group of FBI officers arriving at the pier of Little St James and accessing the disgraced financiers property with golf buggies. Records viewed by NBC News show that the building was among proposed new construction that raised alarm inside the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. Baron recounted his experience visiting Little St. James over several interviews with Insider. That might sound exceedingly mundane the most boring answer to a tantalizing puzzle. "The colors, design, and direction of the stripes are strikingly similar to the design in Tutankhamun's Nemes headdress. A shocking video filmed on Jeffrey Epsteins infamous Paedo Island reveals secret underground lairs and a bizarre sex temple with fake doors. The woman had a stillbirth in 2021 in South Carolina, which explicitly criminalizes self-managed abortion. The bookcases were filled with hardcover bestsellers. Though not many details have been reported about the interior of the main residence, a former employee said that Epstein had two offices, which no one but the maid was allowed to enter, where he kept security boxes. In other words, it seems as if Baron encountered the building before Epstein applied its distinctive striped exterior, including the realistic mural of a large wooden door. In a 2015 defamation lawsuit filed against Maxwell, the house manager for one of Maxwells close friends testified that a distraught15-year-old Swedish girl told him that Maxwell had taken away her passport and tried to force her to have sex with Epstein while she was on the island. When I called back a day later, I spoke with a woman who denied any knowledge of Southern Trust or anyone named Karen or Monique. An "urban explorer" has shared clips on TikTok from when he infiltrated Jeffrey Epstein 's abandoned island in August 2020. Baron didn't recall much about the boat's captain. Scully claimed that his client used the building for exercise. IE 11 is not supported. As for the statue, or statues, of Horus: The available evidence is inconclusive. "I am very concerned that major development is occurring on Little St. James Island through the processing of a series of minor" permit applications," Jean-Pierre Oriol, the then-director of the Coastal Zone Management program, wrote in a March 2011 letter to Epstein's attorney. A monument to sexual predation. I found myself ashamed to discuss my progress with my editor and colleagues, as each additional clue turned out to be a false start. She appears to have broken off her engagement and is spending a lot of time with Tyga. Still, no theory has convincingly explained why Epstein erected the building or what may have happened inside. They confirmed earlier reports that the exterior of the building is comprised of flat walls but painted in such a way to give the appearance of dimension. In December 2021, a venture capitalist bought the vacant lot for $25.845 million, a source close to the deal told The Wall Street Journal. John Stewart, the owner of a boat-tour agency on St. Thomas, also told reporters that, over the past few weeks, he has seen a large increase in the number of catamarans sailing by Epstein's island. "Was there a few times to tune his piano," one read, referring to Epstein. Horus was in control of the sun and the moon. Indeed, someone had left several comments about entering the temple, using the piano tuner's name. This year, he had begun construction on a compound there despite a stop-work order that had been in place since December. ", Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Two independent filmmakers snuck onto Jeffrey Epstein's infamous private island in the US Virgin Islands and caught a rushed glimpse of some of the most mysterious and intriguing parts of the property. We now have a much clearer picture of the building's ostensible purpose. Theres also what appears to be a mysterious blue-striped temple. Theres no one here. That would explain your question about the door lock," which curiously appears designed to prevent people inside from leaving. Time and Pete Davidsons Love Life March On. Urban explorers captured rare footage of Jeffrey Epstein's private island after sneaking onto the sex offender's remote getaway location, they claim. The footage also showed Epstein's eclectic taste in art and home dcor, revealing odd statues of apes, gargoyle-like sculptures, a massive sundial, and an armchair that appeared to be made of animal horns and hide. The video was posted to YouTube this week by the organization We Are Change, which bills itself as a nonpartisan, independent media outlet "working to expose corruption worldwide," though Berwick noted that he was not a journalist. He never met Epstein, and he didn't recall how his staff originally contacted him maybe through another client, or maybe through the online directory. Both also pointed out the temples questionable wooden door, which features a reinforcing lock bar. Epsteins New York townhouse where the late pedophile once kept nude photos of girls, creepy taxidermy and a bizarre painting of Bill Clinton in a blue dress was sold for a little under $50 million in March. Splash News; Backgrid; James Messerschmidt for NY Post, HANDOUT/US District Court for the Southe/AFP via Getty Images, Sotheby's International Realty Santa Fe, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Ghislaine Maxwell appeals sex-trafficking conviction over fatal errors, Ghislaine Maxwell to use divorce settlement to pay for appeal: report, Salacious allegations against Epstein associates to be unsealed: report, Ghislaine Maxwells claim that Prince Andrew-Virginia Giuffre pic is fake is ridiculous: report. Atop the roof were statues that resembled "gargoyles." WebEpstein's seven-story mansion in Manhattan also hit the market in July for $88 million, according to the Journal. New look at Jeffrey Epstein's private island. Built in 1953, Epsteins estate spanned over 14,200 square feet and was made up of six bedrooms, with a staff house and pool house on the Intracoastal Waterway. Berwick and Rudkowski didn't enter the temple its windows appeared to be boarded up but they got a close-up look at the medieval-looking door that has inspired endless speculation. Only Owens has the power to demolish our notions of dress. Read more jeffrey epstein news, headlines, stories, photos, and videos from Inside Edition. as well as other partner offers and accept our, 10 of the most bizarre details people have reported finding in Jeffrey Epstein's NYC mansion, from a painting of Bill Clinton in a dress to prosthetic breasts mounted on a bathroom wall. When Baron mentioned this, my heart sank. A woman who admitted having sex with a 13-year-old boy and becoming pregnant with his baby has avoided jail time. Epstein's flight logs became public as a result of lawsuits filed by women who accused him of sexual abuse and the prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors. Behind the desk were several columns of floor-to-ceiling bookcases. The leak was ruining the top of the piano, and the flooring. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories, the discovery of a strange blue-and-white structure. Follow us on Facebook! Epstein reportedly had plans to turn the compound into a baby-making factory where he would inseminate victims. The compound was to feature an amphitheater, an underwater office, and pool, according to the Virgin Islands Daily News. But even from that distant vantage point, there is a lot to be seen including a temple-like structure and life-size plastic cows. The same photo compared the building's exterior to the striped flag of Greece and noted that "sex between adults and minors was common in ancient Greece.". The directory returned a single entry: a piano tuner named Patrick Baron. The New York City Medical Examiners Office ruled the death a suicide. Epstein's victims were young women and girls. "No tunnels!" Thank you for supporting our journalism. A defiant gesture, like a raised middle finger, toward the rest of the world. "Never saw him though.". This doesn't quite compute. Insider explored the most prominent and tantalizing theories about the building, including that it is a monument to an evil Canaanite god and that it is a crypt. Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission. I know this because my friend has been in that room several times to tune the piano.". On his desk, in his office, in his bedroom.. Meanwhile, Givenchy and Chlo fell short. Jeffrey Epstein pal Ghislaine Maxwell appeals sex trafficking conviction over jury members lie inside courtroom Love Island's Tom in furious clash with islander after mass dumping. Urban explorers captured rare footage of Jeffrey Epstein's private island after sneaking onto the sex offender's remote getaway location, they claim. The documents clearly show a building designed to show off a grand piano. Remember, the building was erected between 2009 and 2013. Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks. In New Mexico, Epstein owned a 7,500-acre ranch that was appraised at over $18 million in 2013. He also owned an apartment in Paris on the famous Avenue Foch. The pedophile allegedly molested and sexually assaulted dozens of women and girls at the estate after luring them into the house by asking for massages. On the first excursion, he met a woman named Karen, who seemed to serve as the island's project manager. The first was published by The Associated Press in July: "Epstein built a stone mansion with cream-colored walls and a bright turquoise roof surrounded by several other structures including the maids' quarters and a massive, square-shaped white building on one end of the island. says the topless young man standing inside a bare electrical shed on Jeffrey Epsteins private island, more than a year after the disgraced billionaire The purchase consisted of private and leased federal lands. ", I asked if he was sure. When I emailed Baron several photographs of the building, taken from different angles and elevations, he called me a few minutes later: "That is definitely the building. Here's what he remembers about the interior: On both visits, after Baron finished tuning the piano, the same golf-cart driver took him back to the island's dock, where the same boat captain returned him to St. Thomas.