Deals from Dermstore, NuFace, Tibi, and more. Every reporter has a personal theory of journalism a mental model of the entire process that explains why they bother with it in the first place. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. But the YouTube user said he visited the building in the "early 2000s," long before it appeared in satellite imagery of Little St. James. By 2008, Epsteins estate on Little St. James had about 70 staff. Lifestyle / News / Our Obsessions. Jeffrey and Ghislaine have been together as a couple for the last 11 years, the note started. In the two months since Insider highlighted the structure, I've received dozens of tips about its true purpose. On top of being partners [sic] they are also best of friends, it said. Desperate Sarah Ransome claimed she made her dramatic escape bid after being raped multiple times on Little St James. Sign up for notifications from Insider! The persistence of this mystery is especially remarkable given the intense public scrutiny of Epstein and his circle since his arrest in July. After buying the 72-acre Atop the roof were statues that resembled "gargoyles." The bookcases were filled with hardcover bestsellers. 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.). "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 only way to access the island is by boat or plane. Not according to flight logs. Verdict: This is easily the most plausible and supported theory, but the available evidence is inconsistent. The 'owl' is Moloch, a satanic entity that demands child sacrifice. Luke Rudkowski of We Are Change and Jeff Berwick sneaked onto Epsteins private island, Little St James, three months after FBI agents raided the luxury Caribbean hideaway. She said: I had been raped three times that day. I felt no closer to understanding the history of the building or the local lore around it. 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.. Theres also what appears to be a mysterious blue-striped temple. girls and young women to be forced into sexual servitude on Epstein's islands, Two private islands owned by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been listed for $125 million, The Wall Street Journal first. The building, by contrast, is shaped like a rectangle and has no covered porch to speak of. Plants were cleared. He pleaded guilty to two state prostitution counts and served 13 months in jail in an arrangement that allowed him to leave for 12 hours a day, six days a week, on work release. 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. 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. Best Privacy Policy and NOW WATCH: VIDEO: How did Jeffrey Epstein's address book end up in the hands of a communist farmer in Vermont? He drove Baron in a golf cart to the building where the piano was. The drawings show a building with a 10-foot facade, stone exterior and multiple windows on the front. (Victorias Secret models allegedly visited, as well). A favorite among online conspiracists, this theory combines the more fantastical elements of the Pizzagate and QAnon conspiracy theories, including cryptic allusions to pagan deities and underground chambers for abusing and murdering children. Inside the abandoned sex dens Jeffrey Epstein shared Some of these similarities are debatable, and some are absurd, but it is difficult to ignore the sense that the building resembles something. We've received your submission. (Confusing matters further is the disappearance or destruction of some of the building's architectural elements. WebAs Business Insider previously reported, Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the Caribbean is becoming a tourist attraction. One Department of Planning and Natural Resources official acknowledged that there were differences. Below, everything to know about Epsteins ties to the island. The blue-striped structure sits on a lookout point on the southeastern edge of Little St. James island, which Epstein purchased in 1998 for $7.95 million. The building has inspired countless conspiracy theories, but none has adequately explained what was inside the building or what Epstein did there. The second account was published by NBC News in early August. In 2016, shortly before his arrest, he bought the larger Great St. James islands for $17.5 million. Its been reported Epstein hid young girls he allegedly enslaved in underground rooms below the temple and other parts of the island. Oriol called on Hodge to provide a detailed inventory on "all existing structures on Little St. James" and a status report of all permits issued to Epstein's company "for which the scope of work is not completed.". 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. He didn't recognize the name of the reader who referred me to him. 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. Another comment read (minor typos have been corrected): "Every time I was there it seemed some kind of repair was being done to structure. Its gold dome flew off during the deadly 2017 hurricane season.". 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. and secret underground lairs discovered at Jeffrey Epstein 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. Stay up to date with what you want to know. They said they wanted to visit the island to determine what exactly was on there, and if by chance former President Bill Clinton or Epstein himself (who is dead) were there. ", Another reader sent an annotated photo, below, that described the statues as harpies, the half-bird, half-human creatures of Greek and Roman mythology. The design slightly resembles ablaq, a masonry technique used in mosques that involves layers of darker and lighter stone. 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. Locals say the structure's gold dome was blown away during Hurricane Maria in 2017. Altogether, he sought to expand his residence by nearly 20,000 square feet a transformation that turned his main house into a mansion. 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. 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. I found myself ashamed to discuss my progress with my editor and colleagues, as each additional clue turned out to be a false start. Jeffrey Epstein's Island Temple Had a Piano and a Picture of the Jeffrey Epstein: Explorers sneak onto private island in 2020, The explorers managed to film some of the island's main landmarks, The US Virgin Island was where Epstein carried out many of his sick crimes, Epstein's island became known as 'paedo' or 'orgy' island, The island has been dormant since Epstein's death in 2019. 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. The interior consisted of only one large room; there weren't any doors or stairwells that may have led to other rooms. "When you say 'lair,' there is a connotation to that," he continued. The mansion has a distinctive turquoise roof. The building was supposed to be a music pavilion. WebDid Jeffrey Epstein Kill Himself? The reality is, in life, you will be both victim and villain. 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. Maybe Scully never entered the building and only heard about its interior from someone else. "When you say 'study' or 'retreat,' there is a different connotation. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The pair claimed to have made it to Little Saint James, in the US Virgin Islands - bought by Epstein 20 years ago and which became known as 'paedophile island' or 'orgy island'. In September, one of Epsteins victims told how she tried to swim across shark-infested waters to escape his hideaway. There have been varying explanations for the blue-striped temple. Someone, somewhere, must have a clue. 10 Things You Dont Have to Pay Full Price for This Week. But there was no ladder. I asked Baron what he thought the building was used for. Rick Friedman Photography via Getty; Marco Bello/Reuters, Rick Friedman/Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty, where he was being held on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, valued the home closer to $56 million earlier at another point that year, Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George. There were theater drapes in the room, and furniture. This year, he had begun construction on a compound there despite a stop-work order that had been in place since December. subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Have You Tried Eating an Orange in the Shower? A small building on Little St. James, the Caribbean island estate of Jeffrey Epstein. Thank you for supporting our journalism. Verdict: Initially believable, but provably false. There are several variations of this theory, but many seem to stem from the presence of two birdlike statues perched on the building's roof. The plans for the pavilion, top, called for a different design than what was completed, bottom. ", I asked if he was sure. A Feb. 21 Instagram video ( direct link, archive link) shows a series of clips of former The episode with the piano tuner gave me one last idea. That's the right location. 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. But why would at least three people the boat captain, the contractor, and the YouTube user convey superficially plausible stories about the structure, sometimes in exacting detail, that didn't withstand basic scrutiny? Search warrants reveal that police discovered a knife and a gun while investigating Bryan Kohbergers car and his family home. "No one used to pay attention to it," Stewart told the Los Angeles Times. pic.twitter.com/njxfg2HahN. Oddly, oddly quiet., However his friend then shouts, Theyre on golf carts get the f**k out of here.. She filed the lawsuit with the superior court in the US Virgin Islands. WebIo Dodds writes. Send an email to the author: ktrotter@insider.com. During this time, Epstein reportedly ordered the construction of a spa, a living room that would connect to a ground theater, a new kitchen, and two new guest rooms. Those 2010 plans, which were part of a permit application that raised concerns inside the agency, included drawings of a building that looks almost nothing like the structure that was built. Both said that funeral services would be held at Menorah Chapels, later known as Menorah Gardens & Funeral Chapel, in West Palm Beach, Florida. is quite dangerous technology, but Bill Gates says theres no threat, Police: Body found in rental vehicle at Hertz rental facility in Gates. The clip taken by an anti-corruption organisation also shows the seedy outdoor massage room where underage girls would pamper the registered sex offender. 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. "It is true that I am a piano tuner with the Piano Technicians Guild," the piano tuner said. Though much of what transpired on the island has remained the subject of rumor, its likely that more concrete details will soon emerge: On Monday, at least a dozen FBI agents raided Epsteins Little St. James residence, a bureau spokesman told NBC News. But questions remain over whether it was built according to the plans that were submitted to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. Based only on its furnishings, Epstein likely used the building to play piano, read books, work, and maybe relax. In March 2021, the Manhattan townhouse sold for $51 million, far below its listing price of $88 million, The Wall Street Journal reported. They conceded their actions likely broke the law, but that they tried to "make sure we weren't doing too many illegal things all at once.". On the first excursion, he met a woman named Karen, who seemed to serve as the island's project manager. It has sadly become famous as being the location where much of his supposed abuse towards young girls took place. The documents clearly show a building designed to show off a grand piano. Keep reading for a closer look at "Orgy Island. In 2016, Epstein purchased the nearby Great St. James Island, which is approximately 165 acres, for $18 million. "No tunnels!" Walgreens Wont Distribute Abortion Pills in 20 States. 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. The accusers who have all spoken out have detailed the locations where they claim to have been subjected to rape and sexual torture. 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. 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. 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 home is located at 9 E. 71st St., and Epsteins estate attorney, Bennet Moskowitz, revealed previously in court proceedings that the cash from the sale would be used to replenish the Epstein Victims Compensation Fund. On March 19, 2020, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, sued his estate. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google But he is the only visitor to offer a plausible and chronologically sound account of the building's interior. According to the New York Post, the stop-work order was ignored, and construction on the island continued. Jeffrey Epstein By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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. The title refers to a private campground owned by the exclusive Bohemian Club in San Francisco, whose members conduct elaborate ceremonies involving a gigantic concrete bird known as the Owl of Bohemia. Jeffrey Epstein In August 2019, Epstein died of an apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail cell, where he was being held on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. 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. 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. Made up of 7,600 acres, the compound is located south of Sante Fe. 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. Epstein also had a Paris estate that went up for sale last month for $13.5 million. Berwick and Rudkowski conceded their actions likely broke the law, but that they tried to "make sure we weren't doing too many illegal things all at once. 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. The floors appeared to be made of wood and were covered with a large Oriental rug. 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. But Vox reported in 2020 that a source close to the contribution said the donation sum was actually much smaller $6.5 million. The file was created on a desktop by someone logged in as the user GMax on Oct. 14, 2002. During Hurricanes Irma and Maria, its golden dome blew off and was never replaced. 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. The color of the building perhaps the most distinctive quality of the temple was a "dull pewter." Parties with Guerlain, Margiela, and more. 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. Investigators also found a taxidermied tiger and poodle in the house. 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. says the topless young man standing inside a bare electrical shed on Jeffrey Epsteins private island, more than a year after the disgraced billionaire Terms of Service apply. A former IT contractor who worked for Epstein from 1999 through 2005 also shed light on what was to be found inside Epsteins residence: countless photos of nude women. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. But neither Hibbert nor his fellow top officials responded to subsequent requests asking if the agency approved the building as it now appears. Oriol also requested a meeting to discuss development on Little St. James. Proceeds from the sale of the properties will be used in part to pay for the Epstein estate's outstanding lawsuits and cost of the estate's operations, Daniel Weiner, an attorney for the Epstein estate, told Insider. Scully told the network that he worked for Epstein for six years, from 1999 to 2005. All times AEDT (GMT +11). IE 11 is not supported. Since Epstein's July arrest and subsequent death by apparent suicide on August 10, the island has become a tourist attraction, Business Insider previously reported. USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment. I was just too excited to be on this beautiful island with a day to myself and this amazing piano. Jeffrey Epstein Christie's International Real Estate The Saints did not immediately reply to Insider's requests for comment. Why did Jeffrey Epstein's private jet fly to Riyadh on the eve of the 2016 election? In 1998, for $7.95 million, Epstein purchased Little St. James Island, which is situated between the larger St. Thomas and St. John islands. 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. Remember That Spray-on Dress? During Paris Fashion Week, Anrealage used technology to make colors appear. It's no surprise that Epstein would have wanted a grand music room on his private island. The building is surrounded by an expansive terrace painted bright white with red shapes. 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. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. According to Scully, though, the building is simply a gym. Above the piano hung a portrait of Epstein and the pope. Did it even matter what Epstein used the building for? By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider For this reason alone, it is unlikely that this person ever set foot inside Epstein's temple. ", Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. as well as other partner offers and accept our. In one scene they entered one of Epsteins offices which features a small sign that reads Keep Calm and Carry On. The first two numbers appear to have been disconnected, while the third, for Monique, went to a voicemail greeting for Southern Trust, a company that belonged to Epstein. The island has been abandoned since Epstein's death in 2019. She faces six criminal counts at trial, including enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts. There is a legible correspondence between the building's exterior and the modern Greek flag, and ancient Greek culture did promote sexual relationships between adolescent boys and adult men. By mid-August, after speaking to the piano tuner who never tuned Epstein's piano, I was blocked and bewildered. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. Epstein purchased Little St. James, which spans over 70 acres, in 1998 for only $7.95 million at the time. Kaitlyn Folmer, a producer at ABC News, passed along my contact information to Scully, but I didn't hear back. Workers told each other it was a music room fitted with a grand piano and acoustic walls. Baron recounted his experience visiting Little St. James over several interviews with Insider. Jeffrey Epstein's Private Islands List for $125 Million: Photos In New Mexico, Epstein owned a 7,500-acre ranch that was appraised at over $18 million in 2013. None of the available photos and videos that depict the golden statues is detailed enough to determine their identities, or if they even have one. 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. I would never sign any lease agreements or contracts with such individuals as Jeffery Epstein or any of his co-conspirators.. I didnt even think about it it was just, get me away.. 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. I wasn't able to reach Scully either. 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. An email address found via public records no longer works, and a phone number associated with one of his companies was disconnected. Fact check: Gates appears on Epstein's flight logs, not anyone else This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Gates is on Epstein's flight logs, nobody else in video, President of the United States from 2009 to 2017, Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks, No link between Bill Gates and chicken and egg shortage, experts say, Unsealed flight logs show that Trump was on Epstein's private jet in 1997, Ghislaine Maxwell Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Conspiring With Jeffrey Epstein To Sexually Abuse Minors, Financier Jeffrey Epstein reportedly arrested in NY on sex charges, Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein pleads not guilty to sex-trafficking claims that 'shock the conscience', Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, awaiting sex trafficking charges, dead of apparent suicide, The Epstein Connections Fueling Conspiracy Theories, Bill Gates Met With Jeffrey Epstein Many Times, Despite His Past, Bill Gates says he regrets the time spent with Jeffrey Epstein: It was a huge mistake, Did these Medal of Freedom recipients fly on Jeffrey Epsteins plane? The proceeds from the sale are expected to be used for the estates regular administration, including its payment as necessary of taxes, creditors and claimants, Daniel H. Weiner, who represents Epsteins estate, told The Post. Shocking new vision from the private island of suspected sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has shown fake doors and frightening statues. A growing TikTok food trend is the equivalent of goblin mode for your midday hunger pangs. Drawings supplied by Epstein's architects to the U.S. Virgin Islands agency that oversees coastal development show that it was designed to be a haven for music: an octagonal 3,500-square-foot pavilion housing a grand piano. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider I was not able to make sense of this discrepancy. He didn't recall seeing any blue and white stripes on the exterior. 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.". On July 9, U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett said she would be matching the donations she had received from Epstein over the years to give to organizations in her district that focus on women and children.