Web1.9M views 3 years ago #InsideEdition It's your first look at disgraced financier Jeffrey Epsteins private island. 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. 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. While the two sides were still hashing out the agreement, Epstein was moving forward with plans to triple the size of his 8,124-square-foot island residence and add a new pool, spa and underground theater, according to permit records viewed by NBC News. 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. On each occasion, Baron traveled to a dock in Red Hook, a town on the eastern end of St. Thomas, where he boarded a small boat that took him to Little St. James. According to a calendar he kept at the time, Baron went to the island twice: in August 2012 and October 2012. "No one used to pay attention to it," Stewart told the Los Angeles Times. Plans for Jeffrey Epstein's private island, Little St. James. Footage appears to shows Prince Andrew inside Jeffrey Epstein's New York residence in 2010. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. But it's why I do it. They scoured the site on golf carts over claims under-age girls were used as sex slaves and repeatedly abused inside the temple. But when I called that piano tuner, he told me: "I've never been to Jeffrey Epstein's private island. Chicago-based contractor James Both shared his professional thoughts on the building's door with Business Insider. A Feb. 21 Instagram video ( direct link, archive link) shows a series of clips of former President Barack Obama awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to different celebrities. ", "I went in there knowing absolutely nothing about [Epstein], except that he was wealthy," he said. An email address found via public records no longer works, and a phone number associated with one of his companies was disconnected. 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. And what was the significance of the mattresses? But it also points to yet another mystery, one that may never be answered: What was Jeffrey Epstein doing on the rest of his island, and with whom? The others are Ellen DeGeneres, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey. 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. I felt no closer to understanding the history of the building or the local lore around it. All times AEDT (GMT +11). The 'owl' is Moloch, a satanic entity that demands child sacrifice. The bookcases went high enough to require a ladder. 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 island is also home to a stone mansion, with cream walls and a bright turquoise roof surrounded by maids' quarters was built first, followed by the temple topped with a gold dome. Epstein, a wealthy hedge fund manager, was arrested July 6, 2019, and faced federal charges for allegedly trafficking minors. "The government prosecuted Ms. Maxwell as a proxy for Jeffrey Epstein" to Before his death behind bars in August, Epstein was accused of forcing young women, including some who were underage, into participating in sex orgies at the US Virgin Islands property. On the second excursion, he spoke with a woman named Monique who filled a similar role, though she never actually greeted him in person while he was on the island. Then I tried to put the whole story out of my mind. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, This password will be used to sign into all, Photo: Gianfranco Gaglione/AP/Shutterstock, What We Know About Jeffrey Epsteins Pedophile Island, 39 Pairs of Sneakers to Upgrade Your Wardrobe, Im On the Hunt for the Best Sunscreens Without a White Cast, I Inherited Millions From My Mother, and Everyone Knows, Are There Any Healthier Alternatives to Gel Manicures?, 6 Stand-ups Analyze ChatGPTs Attempts to Steal Their Jobs, Julia Fox, Paris Hilton, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week. In September, one of Epsteins victims told how she tried to swim across shark-infested waters to escape his hideaway. During Hurricanes Irma and Maria, its golden dome blew off and was never replaced. Why did Jeffrey Epstein's private jet fly to Riyadh on the eve of the 2016 election? The drawings show a building with a 10-foot facade, stone exterior and multiple windows on the front. 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. 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. 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 piano tuner's denial is one reason to question this account. The compound was to feature an amphitheater, an underwater office, and pool, according to the Virgin Islands Daily News. The color of the building perhaps the most distinctive quality of the temple was a "dull pewter." The structure that was erected has no windows or stone exterior on its front and appears to rise at least 30 feet. Sarah Ransome, who claims Epstein instructed her to have sex with lawyer Alan Dershowitz when she was in her 20, said she tried to swim off the island, only to be found by a search party that included Epstein and his alleged madame Ghislaine Maxwell. Known as Zorro Ranch, it went up for sale in July for $27.5 million, two years after Epsteins death. One of the more remarkable features of the building is its exterior treatment: Wide, horizontal stripes, alternating between azure and white, that bend toward the tops of the windows and door. Plants were cleared. A piano tuner who lives in the Virgin Islands told Insider that he visited the building twice in 2012 and described its interior in detail. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The documents clearly show a building designed to show off a grand piano. "It's styled like what you might see on a castle, with what appears to be a reinforcing lock bar across the face," he said. The building, by contrast, is shaped like a rectangle and has no covered porch to speak of. At Paris Fashion Week, Different Takes on Glamour. The island has, over the years, gained a handful of sinister nicknames: Orgy Island, Pedophile Island, and Island of Sin. (Epstein, Bloomberg reports, preferred the nickname Little St. Jeffs.). (Baron wasn't certain which specific pope, but when I showed him photos of the most recent three, he said his best guess was John Paul II.). (For pianos in regular use, the recommended frequency is twice a year.). (Dershowitz claims that he has never met Ransome). Atop the roof were statues that resembled "gargoyles." This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The mansion has a distinctive turquoise roof. 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. Maxwell was seeking to get funds from the estate for the legal fees she racked up while defending herself against claims that she helped recruit girls and young women to be forced into sexual servitude on Epstein's islands. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider In July, ABC News spoke with an IT contractor named Steve Scully, who said he worked for Epstein and visited Little St. James more than 100 times. That said, it's possible Epstein designed the building as a future burial ground for his parents but never got around to having their remains shipped to the island. USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment. They are, contrary to what people think, rarely apart, I almost always see them together., The duo was described as thick as thieves, with the file noting, they compliment each other really well.. Kaitlyn Folmer, a producer at ABC News, passed along my contact information to Scully, but I didn't hear back. But Vox reported in 2020 that a source close to the contribution said the donation sum was actually much smaller $6.5 million. 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. Yet here was a seemingly solvable mystery for which I could not find a solution. Epstein associates, including Prince Andrew, argue that the confidential settlement blocks Giuffre from taking legal action against them. 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. (In a statement, a spokesperson for his former employer called this claim demonstrably false and defamatory.). 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. Jeffrey Epstein Private Island Video Shows Temple, Creepy In one scene they entered one of Epsteins offices which features a small sign that reads Keep Calm and Carry On. But it's not quite the same color scheme, and it would be difficult to prove, in the absence of Epstein's own admission, whether the resemblance is intentional. A Woman Has Been Charged for Allegedly Taking Abortion Pills. "They presented a survey of the existing site at the meeting and expressed no new buildings would be requested across the island," Hibbert said in a statement. The New York City Medical Examiners Office ruled the death a suicide. When Baron mentioned this, my heart sank. Terms of Service apply. Reportedly, Epstein would pay staffers anywhere between $100 and $1,000 if they discovered and gave to him old rum bottles, plates, and other dishware. So I sent him an email and left a voicemail asking if he had ever tuned a piano for Epstein. According to permit records obtained by NBC News, while Epsteins legal team was busy negotiating a notoriously lenient plea deal for their client in the fall of 2007, Epstein was preoccupied with orchestrating major renovations on the island. She said: I had been raped three times that day. Glaser had announced from the onset of his purchase his plans to demolish the property. The building was supposed to be a music pavilion. Tennessee Bans Drag Shows in Public Places. The probe came after Epstein who was awaiting trial on child sex abuse charges died in his New York City jail cell. This year, he had begun construction on a compound there despite a stop-work order that had been in place since December. Conspiracists have also pointed to a public bath in Syria, the family crest of France's House of Lusignan, and the set of Ellen DeGeneres' daytime talk show, "Ellen.". "Our files do not reflect any other permit request since that 2011 time frame.". See our favorite looks from outside the shows. But seriously, what's up with this weird temple thing on Jeffrey Epstein's private island? After a trial that began on November 29, Maxwell was found guilty of five charges, including sex trafficking of a minor. The Florida mansion in Palm Beach where prosecutors say Epstein sexually abused underage girls and women for many years was demolished in April after developer Todd Michael Glaser bought the site for $18.5 million in March. 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. That might sound exceedingly mundane the most boring answer to a tantalizing puzzle. Before we get there, however, let's run down the most popular and probable explanations. Epstein carried out many of his sick crimes against underage girls at the tropical resort. A Feb. 21 Instagram video ( direct link, archive link) shows a series of clips of former The persistence of this mystery is especially remarkable given the intense public scrutiny of Epstein and his circle since his arrest in July. Desperate Sarah Ransome claimed she made her dramatic escape bid after being raped multiple times on Little St James. The accusers who have all spoken out have detailed the locations where they claim to have been subjected to rape and sexual torture. I know there were many issues with roof leaking and had to go there and move piano and cover it because they were putting up scaffolding to repair the roof that was leaking on piano. It is surrounded by palm trees and a terrace with a labyrinth motif. The clip taken by an anti-corruption organisation also shows the seedy outdoor massage room where underage girls would pamper the registered sex offender. Prosecutors entered many of the photos including first looks at his infamous massage rooms as exhibits last week during the testimony, accusing Maxwell, 59, of recruiting and grooming underage teens who were sexually abused by Epstein between 1994 and 2004. The video follows the pair as they probe the $28.2 million islands secrets giving an insight into the lifestyle of the perverted billionaire. The Post has obtained current aerial images of the vast properties where Epstein and Maxwell lived large, in addition to haunting interior photographs that were recently revealed in court. Virginia Roberts, who has been one of the women to come forward accusing Epstein of rape, was pictured at the ranch. A document discovered by the feds on a hard drive in Epsteins townhouse detailed his intimate relationship with Maxwell, FBI digital forensic examiner Stephen Flatley testified in Manhattan federal court last Tuesday. The general public has no idea what really went on at Little St. James, let alone what the inside of any of the buildings looks like. According to the reporter Rich Schapiro, an unnamed architectural firm submitted blueprints for a domed, single-story building on Epstein's behalf to the Department of Public Works of the US Virgin Islands. is quite dangerous technology, but Bill Gates says theres no threat, Police: Body found in rental vehicle at Hertz rental facility in Gates. Hodge, Epstein's lawyer, did not return a request for comment. The floors appeared to be made of wood and were covered with a large Oriental rug. It was Shackleford who captured the jaw-dropping scene of FBI agents executing a search warrant throughout the island: But my doubts stemmed from two earlier, less-noticed videos that featured close-ups of the blue-and-white building. says the topless young man standing inside a bare electrical shed on Jeffrey Epsteins private island, more than a year after the disgraced billionaire Walgreens Wont Distribute Abortion Pills in 20 States. The men noted that the island likely wasn't empty the grass and pool looked cared for even though the FBI raided the island in August. In 1998, for $7.95 million, Epstein purchased Little St. James Island, which is situated between the larger St. Thomas and St. John islands. 2. But he denied tuning pianos outside of Florida and South Carolina, or ever visiting the US Virgin Islands. Best Including some places where the pills are still legal. The statues in front of and on top of the building, including Poseidon and the birdlike ones on the roof, appear to have vanished around the same time.). Below, everything to know about Epsteins ties to the island. Nor is he the only person who has publicly claimed to have done so. 2015 defamation lawsuit filed against Maxwell, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Jones refers to the owl statue as "Moloch" throughout the film but never explains why. (2020) - 60 Minutes examines graphic images from inside his cell and during his autopsy. "In the link you provided the building looks rectangular and in the drawings it looked octagonal," he wrote. 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. However, the pair claimed they were forced to flee the secluded setting when they were chased away by staff, who they discovered are still working on the island after just 30 minutes. 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. A woman who admitted having sex with a 13-year-old boy and becoming pregnant with his baby has avoided jail time. To get there, Epstein would fly the underage girls into St. Thomas, and then he would ferry them over to his private island via a boat named Lady Ghislaine, one former employee toldBloomberg. Jeffrey Epstein, the well-connected sex criminal who died by suicide in federal custody, owned a 70-acre private island in the US Virgin Islands known as Little St. James. Deals from Dermstore, NuFace, Tibi, and more. Epstein ultimately struck a 2008 deal that spared him the prospect of a long federal prison sentence. "It is true that I am a piano tuner with the Piano Technicians Guild," the piano tuner said. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Previous videos shot by drones before the windows were boarded up also showed a stack of mattresses in the building, and an easel. Security guards lined the beaches. But even from that distant vantage point, there is a lot to be seen including a temple-like structure and life-size plastic cows. 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. 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Right? Rich Schapiro is a reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit. Altogether, he sought to expand his residence by nearly 20,000 square feet a transformation that turned his main house into a mansion. The footage gave a close-up look at Epstein's eclectic taste in art, revealing odd statues of apes, gargoyle-like sculptures, a massive sundial, and an armchair that appeared to be made of animal horns and hide. Modlin Group, Bespoke Real Estate, and Christie's International Real Estate The Saints are collectively marketing the islands. Property records show Epstein purchased the ranch in 1993 from Gary King, who served as New Mexicos 30th attorney general at the time. 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. Epstein also had a Paris estate that went up for sale last month for $13.5 million. Epstein's victims were young women and girls. He would allegedly host a slew of powerful men, including Prince Andrew, there. I was just too excited to be on this beautiful island with a day to myself and this amazing piano. Verdict: Certainly possible, but still unproven. Bill Gates is the only person in the video whose name appears on Jeffrey Epstein's flight logs, which show he flew once in 2013 with the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. That is a little embarrassing to admit, with its connotations of Scooby-Doo and alien abductions. My own theory is that journalism is about solving mysteries identifying the unknown and finding a way to know it. The only way to access the island is by boat or plane. The episode with the piano tuner gave me one last idea. A woman who says she tried swimming away from Epstein's Little St. James island says she 'never saw him do a day's work', A forensic pathologist hired by Jeffrey Epstein's brother says he may have been strangled, Bill Gates, who said he had no relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, reportedly met with the disgraced financier multiple times, including a 2011 meeting with billionaire Eva Dubin and her teenage daughter, Jeff Berwick and Luke Rudkowski, of Dollar Vigilante and We Are Change, posted, The video gives a close-up view of Epstein's notorious temple, which Insider's J.K. Trotter has. Baron didn't recall much about the boat's captain. "The major difference seems to be in the shape of the building itself," Marlon Hibbert said in response to an email request for comment, in which NBC News had provided a link to a photo of the odd-looking structure. The plans for the pavilion, top, called for a different design than what was completed, bottom. 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. Scully claimed that his client used the building for exercise. 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 recent years, the pinnacle of motorsports has gained an unlikely audience of new enthusiasts. Directly ahead was a desk, about 10 feet long, made of dark wood. To the left, against the western wall, was a small black grand piano. "No tunnels!" Time and Pete Davidsons Love Life March On. Behind the desk were several columns of floor-to-ceiling bookcases. Still, no theory has convincingly explained why Epstein erected the building or what may have happened inside. 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. In March 2011, a top official sent a letter to Epstein's attorney expressing concern over development on the island. Or maybe he visited the island and entered the building sometime after he stopped working for Epstein. After the golf-cart driver dropped him off, Baron entered the building. The reader supplied their friend's name, and I confirmed that a person by that name has worked as a professional piano tuner in South Carolina and Florida. Most professional piano tuners are listed in a directory maintained by the Piano Technicians Guild, a group in Kansas City, Kansas, that tests and certifies piano technicians in the United States. WebDon't miss any of Inside Edition's jeffrey epstein coverage. The Wall Street Journal first reported the sale, citing the islands' listing agents. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. A representative for the facility, now called the IJ Morris at Star of David Cemetery, confirmed that Seymour and Pauline Epstein are interred in a mausoleum there. Poles bearing American flags went up. I would never sign any lease agreements or contracts with such individuals as Jeffery Epstein or any of his co-conspirators.. Prince Andrew. The Sun reported in 2019 that Prince Andrew flew on a private jet with Epstein and his alleged 17-year-old sex slave Virginia Roberts, the pilot claimed.Ghislaine Maxwell. Bill Clinton. Kevin Spacey. Naomi Campbell. Chris Tucker. Alan Dershowitz. According to court filings, Epstein, a convicted sex offender, was accused of trafficking underage girls to the island for sex. From the report: "A colorful building that some news reports have called the 'temple' was actually a gym when Epstein worked out when he was on the island, Scully said, noting in an interview with ABC News that the gym had a memorable feature a massive framed photo of a topless woman.". 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. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Initially the island had the main house, three guest cottages, a caretakers cottage, a private desalination system, a helipad and a dock. A shocking video filmed on Jeffrey Epsteins infamous Paedo Island reveals secret underground lairs and a bizarre sex temple with fake doors. Baron described the structure as a "relatively small building" near the island's coast, far away from the other structures on the island. Friends and former co-workers have described Epstein, a wealthy financier now accused of trafficking and sexually abusing young girls, as a talented pianist. Maybe Scully never entered the building and only heard about its interior from someone else. Lo and Ben Affleck finally find California dream house, Texas ranch of late oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens sells after $80M price cut, Britney Spears quietly sells Calif. home for a roughly $1.7M loss, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Greys Anatomy alum Isaiah Washington retiring from acting: The haters have won, Max Scherzer's first look at the new pitch clock, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave.