Plans for Jeffrey Epstein's music pavilion on Little St. James island. The White House, accessed Feb. 27, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, Business Insider, Aug. 9, 2019, Unsealed flight logs show that Trump was on Epstein's private jet in 1997, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, June 28, 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Conspiring With Jeffrey Epstein To Sexually Abuse Minors, USA TODAY, July 6, 2019, Financier Jeffrey Epstein reportedly arrested in NY on sex charges, USA TODAY, July 8, 2019, Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein pleads not guilty to sex-trafficking claims that 'shock the conscience', USA TODAY, Aug. 10, 2019, Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, awaiting sex trafficking charges, dead of apparent suicide, Scribd, accessed Feb. 27, Epstein Flight Logs, Factcheck.org, Aug. 15, 2019, The Epstein Connections Fueling Conspiracy Theories, The New York Times, Oct. 12, 2019, Bill Gates Met With Jeffrey Epstein Many Times, Despite His Past, CNN, Aug. 5, 2021, Bill Gates says he regrets the time spent with Jeffrey Epstein: It was a huge mistake, PolitiFact, Feb. 23, Did these Medal of Freedom recipients fly on Jeffrey Epsteins plane? No stairs, no elevator. 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. 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? If this didn't work, I planned to drop it altogether. The plans for the pavilion, top, called for a different design than what was completed, bottom. pic.twitter.com/98ha9YYd1l, Per Bloomberg, Les Wexner, chairman and CEO of the L Brands corporation (the parent company of Victorias Secret), also spent time on the island on at least occasion, an employee told the outlet. He didn't recall seeing any blue and white stripes on the exterior. The island remains in contention between the courts and Epsteins estate today but it is expected to go on sale in the coming year, sources told The Post. Epstein's victims were young women and girls. 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. Now the spotlight is on three other deaths that are linked to the case. Epstein associates, including Prince Andrew, argue that the confidential settlement blocks Giuffre from taking legal action against them. 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. Jeffrey Epstein's Island Temple Had a Piano and a Picture of the 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. The file was created on a desktop by someone logged in as the user GMax on Oct. 14, 2002. 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. WebAs Business Insider previously reported, Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the Caribbean is becoming a tourist attraction. 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. On his desk, in his office, in his bedroom.. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. It's no surprise that Epstein would have wanted a grand music room on his private island. 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. Couple discovers seven-foot bees nest behind bathroom show J. This theory is based on three separate accounts. "That seems like the cheapest temple you've ever seen I could've built it myself for $5,000.". The bookcases went high enough to require a ladder. Epstein, who died last month, was said to have masterminded an international sex-trafficking operation, accumulated inexplicable sums of money, and organized his professional and personal lives around a private, inaccessible island all while plying his way into the upper atmosphere of the global elite. Verdict: This is easily the most plausible and supported theory, but the available evidence is inconsistent. Locals say the structure's gold dome was blown away during Hurricane Maria in 2017. 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.. 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. The interior had two levels, with the first four to six feet at ground level and the rest on a slightly raised platform accessed by a single step. Since Epsteins death in 2019, dozens of alleged victims have come forward with sexual assault claims, forcing the executors of his estate Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn to set up a victims compensation fund to dole out damages. Located at 358 El Brillo Way, the funds from the sale have been allocated to the victims compensation program to make payments to Epsteins victims. 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. Friends and former co-workers have described Epstein, a wealthy financier now accused of trafficking and sexually abusing young girls, as a talented pianist. In 1998, wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein purchased a 75-acre island in the U.S. Virgin Islands for $7.95 million, according to the New York Times. The island, called Little St. James, would become the site of some of his most notorious crimesand Filthy Rich, a new documentary series on Netflix, catalogues many of them. 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. A shocking video filmed on Jeffrey Epsteins infamous Paedo Island reveals secret underground lairs and a bizarre sex temple with fake doors. Insider's J.K. Trotter, who spoke to a piano tuner who actually entered the temple, reported last month that the building was most likely used as a music room for Epstein to play piano, read books, or work. Little St. James is the Caribbean island formerly owned by Jeffrey Epstein. 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. Deals from Dermstore, NuFace, Tibi, and more. ", Source: Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Read more: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, Source: The New York Times, New York Magazine, Curbed, Read more:A wild drone video shows FBI agents raiding Jeffrey Epstein's private island home and offers a peek into his mysterious temple. I had other doubts too. Bridgitt Arnold, a spokesperson for Gates, told the New York Times that Gates was unaware that it was Epstein's plane. 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. as well as other partner offers and accept our. The two sides did get together after the letter was sent, according to an agency official. If Epstein wanted to perpetrate crimes without interference, why would he do so in the most conspicuous building on his private island? Explosive end to case thats rocked America, insight into the lifestyle of the perverted billionaire, claims under-age girls were used as sex slaves, being raped multiple times on Little St James. She filed the lawsuit with the superior court in the US Virgin Islands. 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. The 'owl' is Moloch, a satanic entity that demands child sacrifice. That's the right location. (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.). An "urban explorer" has shared clips on TikTok from when he infiltrated Jeffrey Epstein 's abandoned island in August 2020. "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. 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. The building was supposed to be a music pavilion. WebIo Dodds writes. Epstein ultimately struck a 2008 deal that spared him the prospect of a long federal prison sentence. Time and Pete Davidsons Love Life March On. I almost want to say it was the direction of where the parents lived." Another comment read (minor typos have been corrected): "Every time I was there it seemed some kind of repair was being done to structure. It has sadly become famous as being the location where much of his supposed abuse towards young girls took place. 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. 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. The royal has denied the claim. 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. Still, the boat captains are mistaken. A shocking video filmed on Jeffrey Epsteins infamous Paedo Island reveals secret underground lairs and a bizarre sex temple with fake doors. On the first excursion, he met a woman named Karen, who seemed to serve as the island's project manager. The pair Those benches were there, sat there when I went out for a cigarette.". Below, everything to know about Epsteins ties to the island. On top of being partners [sic] they are also best of friends, it said. "Mr. Epstein did in fact have grand piano in that 'temple,' but the roof leaked because the AC units are on top, and the roof is flat. 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. 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. However, the New York City Department of Finance valued the home closer to $56 million earlier at another point that year. It is on this 72-acre island that Epstein allegedly ferried in young women on a boat named the Lady Ghislaine. Epsteins friend and former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, is a British socialite who has been accused of acting as Epsteins madam. New look at Jeffrey Epstein's private island. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. It was Baron, and yes, he had tuned Epstein's piano. We now have a much clearer picture of the building's ostensible purpose. Plants were cleared. You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. We've received your submission. When federal authorities raided the home, they found creepy artwork in the lair, including a painting that depicted Clinton wearing a blue dress and high heels while kicking his feet up in a chair. 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. "I wonder if it's a mausoleum with an Egyptian theme," one reader wrote. Follow us on Facebook! He also owned an apartment in Paris on the famous Avenue Foch. "Was there a few times to tune his piano," one read, referring to Epstein. Urban explorers captured rare footage of Jeffrey Epstein's private island after sneaking onto the sex offender's remote getaway location, they claim. Footage appears to show the them at the huge sundial, as well as the blue and white 'temple' that sits atop a hill. They also got footage of a number of parked tractors and an ambulance, though it's unclear what they were being used for. 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. ", A different reader added: "The statues look similar to those of Horus, the Egyptian god of the sky, wearing the Pschent, the double crown of Egypt. 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. But questions remain over whether it was built according to the plans that were submitted to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. 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. 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. 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. The bookcases were filled with hardcover bestsellers. Yet here was a seemingly solvable mystery for which I could not find a solution. 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. 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. The purchase consisted of private and leased federal lands. 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. 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.). After briefing Baron about the various projects she was managing, Karen handed him off to another employee, an older man who belonged to the island's maintenance staff. Then she hung up. Not according to flight logs. In the two months since Insider highlighted the structure, I've received dozens of tips about its true purpose. Horus was in control of the sun and the moon. The structure that was erected has no windows or stone exterior on its front and appears to rise at least 30 feet. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The building is surrounded by an expansive terrace painted bright white with red shapes. The reader explained that "this particular knowledge is from the boat captains that frequent the area.". Have You Tried Eating an Orange in the Shower? This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. There have been varying explanations for the blue-striped temple. 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. Verdict: Initially believable, but provably false. The front is flanked by statues painted in gold; one which appears to be Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, and another that looks like a pair of birds. 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. Everything We Know About the University of Idaho Murders. A small building on Little St. James, the Caribbean island estate of Jeffrey Epstein. Two years after the disgraced financiers death at 66 by hanging in a federal jail cell, these images seized by officials who conducted raids into all of his homes offer a glimpse at whats become of Epsteins sprawling properties, including his most off-the-radar compound located in the Virgin Islands, which remains abandoned. 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. 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. The drawings show a building with a 10-foot facade, stone exterior and multiple windows on the front. "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. Sign up for notifications from Insider! "No tunnels!" The island was later dubbed "Pedophile Island" and "Orgy Island" by locals, per the Los Angeles Times. 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. This Season, Another Magic Show. 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 ranch includes a three-story, four-bedroom main house, a nearby caretakers residence, horse stables, a firehouse and a yurt. And it would be strange for a reader to use their real name to lie about what a local boat captain told them about a particular building on Epstein's private island. Initially the island had the main house, three guest cottages, a caretakers cottage, a private desalination system, a helipad and a dock. According to Fox News, Epstein had a dedicated team of workers on the island who trafficked girls as young as 12 to his clients. NOW WATCH: 8 creepy artworks that will haunt you. The interior consisted of only one large room; there weren't any doors or stairwells that may have led to other rooms. Verdict: Plausible, but the supporting testimony is inconsistent with the chronology of the building's construction. A monument to sexual predation. I am uncomfortable having received money from someone who has been accused of these egregious actions multiple times, Plaskett said. The building, shaped like a giant box and initially topped with a gold dome, has fueled rampant speculation and online conspiracy theories. The probe came after Epstein who was awaiting trial on child sex abuse charges died in his New York City jail cell. WebDid Jeffrey Epstein Kill Himself? You'll notice what appears to be construction-grade scaffolding, two stacks of small mattresses, and an easel: These developments were mystifying. 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. (Baron said he didn't notice "anything scholarly."). The GOP has introduced more than 20 bills targeting drag shows this year alone. The Row and Balmain showed individual gestures on luxury. Epstein, 66, is now facing up to 45 years in prison on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy. 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. Known as Zorro Ranch, it went up for sale in July for $27.5 million, two years after Epsteins death. Then I tried to put the whole story out of my mind. Chicago-based contractor James Both shared his professional thoughts on the building's door with Business Insider. The New York City Medical Examiners Office ruled the death a suicide. 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. The Best Street Style From Paris Fashion Week. 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. "It is true that I am a piano tuner with the Piano Technicians Guild," the piano tuner said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. And his property grew, in fact by 2008 It is surrounded by palm trees and a terrace with a labyrinth motif. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. That portion of the island already housed a gym, tiki hut, nature observation cabana and dive pavilion, according to the documents. These transformations, according to the Associated Press, happened when the island was bought by accused child-sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead by apparent suicide in his prison cell on August 10. The episode with the piano tuner gave me one last idea. 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. 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. After all, if Epstein did indeed keep a piano in the blue-and-white building, there was a decent chance he needed someone to occasionally tune it. When I went back to the reader, they sent me a link to a YouTube video about Little St. James and claimed they had corresponded with the piano tuner via the comments underneath it. ", Another reader sent an annotated photo, below, that described the statues as harpies, the half-bird, half-human creatures of Greek and Roman mythology. 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. According to Insider, which investigated the structure, it previously featured a gold dome that flew off in 2017 when the hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the region. (He claims, however, that the gym allegedly features an especially large framed photo of a topless woman.). The available photos of the statues, by contrast, show distinctly avian heads. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. The video was liked more than 2,000 times in three days. NOW WATCH: VIDEO: How did Jeffrey Epstein's address book end up in the hands of a communist farmer in Vermont? 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. By 2008, Epsteins estate on Little St. James had about 70 staff. 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. Thank you for supporting our journalism. But the YouTube user said he visited the building in the "early 2000s," long before it appeared in satellite imagery of Little St. James. The island, which is near St. Thomas in the Caribbean, is only 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. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. It wouldn't fit the first time they tried (it was 1200 lbs). Send an email to the author: ktrotter@insider.com. After heightened allegations resurfaced against Epstein in 2019 concerning his involvement with underage girls, the state land commissioner ended the grazing deal with him. Security guards lined the beaches. USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment. 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. "I'll admit it's effed up, but I want to see where Satan lived," one St. Thomas visitor told Fox News. "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. That is a little embarrassing to admit, with its connotations of Scooby-Doo and alien abductions. Scully claimed that his client used the building for exercise.