It suddenly occurred to me that he could have tuned a piano in one of the other buildings on Little St. James. A shark would have been my best friend at that point. 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. Follow us on Facebook! Terms of Service apply. Not according to flight logs. This Season, Another Magic Show. But based on historical satellite imagery from Google Maps, the blue-and-white building appeared on the island sometime between 2009 and 2013. As you can see in the clip below, the arched, medieval-looking "door" the one facing the island's interior is in fact painted to give the illusion of depth. 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. You grow., Im Sick of Being the Bad Guy in Relationships. As for the statue, or statues, of Horus: The available evidence is inconclusive. Have a tip about Epstein or his island? It had a large glass door that faced "almost directly south." 10 Things You Dont Have to Pay Full Price for This Week. Theres no one here. 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 woman had a stillbirth in 2021 in South Carolina, which explicitly criminalizes self-managed abortion. ", Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. She said: I had been raped three times that day. 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. 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. 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. The islands are estimated to be worth a combined $240 million today. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. 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. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 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. "When you say 'lair,' there is a connotation to that," he continued. The video was liked more than 2,000 times in three days. Atop the roof were statues that resembled "gargoyles." 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. "When you say 'study' or 'retreat,' there is a different connotation. That would explain your question about the door lock," which curiously appears designed to prevent people inside from leaving. Gates' name is listed in the documents for a flight on March 1, 2013, from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Palm Beach, Florida, according to flight logs published by FactCheck.org. A small building on Little St. James, the Caribbean island estate of Jeffrey Epstein. 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 there was no ladder. Previously owned by Victorias Secret mogul and Epstein associate Les Wexner, the townhouse was built in 1930 for an heir to the Macys department store fortune. 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. Why did Jeffrey Epstein's private jet fly to Riyadh on the eve of the 2016 election? I know this because my friend has been in that room several times to tune the piano.". Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks. 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.". 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.. I only got involved in the sale of Jeffrey Epsteins residence to ensure it would be wiped off the map of Palm Beach, Lawrence Moens, who represented the listing, told the Palm Beach Daily News at the time. 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. "Was there a few times to tune his piano," one read, referring to Epstein. IE 11 is not supported. But he did remember who greeted him on Little St. James. Many lawsuits against Epstein and his estate allege that Epstein sexually assaulted many girls and women on the islands. The two said they eventually fled when one of them spotted people driving around the island in golf carts. Virginia Roberts, who claims to have been trafficked by Epstein, told her lawyers in 2011 interview that she saw Clinton with two young girls on the island. He drove Baron in a golf cart to the building where the piano was. This theory is based on three separate accounts. And his property grew, in fact by 2008 This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission. "In the link you provided the building looks rectangular and in the drawings it looked octagonal," he wrote. The structure that was erected has no windows or stone exterior on its front and appears to rise at least 30 feet. Ghislaine Maxwell is expected on Tuesday to ask a U.S. appeals court to throw out her conviction for helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls, saying a slew of errors marred the case as prosecutors made her a scapegoat because the financier was dead. 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. Theres also what appears to be a mysterious blue-striped temple. A medieval-style lock on the front became a curious point of conversation for those working there, who suggested it could have been used to lock people inside with no escape. Epstein, a wealthy hedge fund manager, was arrested July 6, 2019, and faced federal charges for allegedly trafficking minors. The permit issued to Epstein's company allowed for the building of an 1,800-square-foot music room, according to records viewed by NBC News. Hodge, Epstein's lawyer, did not return a request for comment. The ranch includes a three-story, four-bedroom main house, a nearby caretakers residence, horse stables, a firehouse and a yurt. Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission. 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. Clinton, however, has repeatedly denied this allegation through his spokesperson. 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. Maybe Scully never entered the building and only heard about its interior from someone else. A second reason for doubt is yet another comment left by the same user: "I didn't have any idea what was happening there at the time, it was early 2000s, so I really didn't pay attention to little details. 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. says the topless young man standing inside a bare electrical shed on Jeffrey Epsteins private island, more than a year after the disgraced billionaire Celebrated at winter solstice.". 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. But he denied tuning pianos outside of Florida and South Carolina, or ever visiting the US Virgin Islands. Plans for Jeffrey Epstein's private island, Little St. James. Then she hung up. One of those features is a door that appears to be designed to keep people inside. All rights reserved. Jeffrey and Ghislaine share many mutual interests and they have a lot of fun together, it continued. Still, the boat captains are mistaken. The general public has no idea what really went on at Jeffrey Epstein's island. Thank you for supporting our journalism. The island has two bays, is covering in lush green vegetation and is surrounded by crystal clear waters. USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment. Modlin Group, Bespoke Real Estate, and Christie's International Real Estate The Saints are collectively marketing the islands. 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. pic.twitter.com/njxfg2HahN. ", I asked if he was sure. 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 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. Including some places where the pills are still legal. When Baron mentioned this, my heart sank. 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. 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. 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. "And after doing the job and talking to some of my other clients on St. Thomas, and they filled me in on the scandal, my perception of that room changed from a study to a lair.". Those benches were there, sat there when I went out for a cigarette.". 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.". Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. I could have accepted it as a study or retreat, until I knew more about the man. The island's southwestern corner features an unusual blue-and-white-striped building that resembles a temple or place of worship. Rich Schapiro is a reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit. 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'. Baron didn't recall much about the boat's captain. This year, he had begun construction on a compound there despite a stop-work order that had been in place since December. But every other detail seemed to match the 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. Based only on its furnishings, Epstein likely used the building to play piano, read books, work, and maybe relax. The bookcases went high enough to require a ladder. 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 "No tunnels!" 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. Maxwells trial is set to resume later this week. On the first excursion, he met a woman named Karen, who seemed to serve as the island's project manager. "Every single one was on Epstein's flight logs," reads the on-screen text in the video. "What makes it peculiar is that if you wanted to keep people out, the bar would be placed inside the building, [but the] locking bar appears to be placed on the outside as if it were intended to lock people in. 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. Send an email to the author: ktrotter@insider.com. A dermatologist weighs in on at-home devices. The reader did not want to be named, but I was able to verify their longtime residence in the US Virgin Islands. Scully claimed that his client used the building for exercise. In 1998, for $7.95 million, Epstein purchased Little St. James Island, which is situated between the larger St. Thomas and St. John islands. After a trial that began on November 29, Maxwell was found guilty of five charges, including sex trafficking of a minor. I don't know who gave you my name." NOW WATCH: 8 creepy artworks that will haunt you. 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. Ms Ransome told how she jumped on a quad bike to get away and planned to drive to a beach to swim to the safety of nearby St Thomas. All times AEDT (GMT +11). The directory returned a single entry: a piano tuner named Patrick Baron. You'll notice what appears to be construction-grade scaffolding, two stacks of small mattresses, and an easel: These developments were mystifying. 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. The documents clearly show a building designed to show off a grand piano. Speculation about the building, resembling a religious temple, has questioned if it was used for the child sex abuse Epstein was accused of. 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. Remember That Spray-on Dress? Up until his arrest in July 2019, the private island was considered his primary residence. Up until his arrest in July, it was believed to be his 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. 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. There were photos of topless women everywhere, contractor Steve Scully told ABC News. Epstein's victims were young women and girls. Poles bearing American flags went up. How Fashion Designer and Mom to a 2-Year-Old Mary Furtas Gets It Done, Im just much more adult, calmer, and more diplomatic with people. The compound was supposed to include an amphitheater and an underwater office and pool, the Virgin Islands Daily News reported in 2019. Friends and former co-workers have described Epstein, a wealthy financier now accused of trafficking and sexually abusing young girls, as a talented pianist. The comedian and Chase Sui Wonders are kissing in Hawaii again. 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. But along the way, I found the closest thing yet to the truth: an eyewitness account of the temple's interior, from someone who stepped inside long before it became a symbol of its owner's dark secrets. After buying the 72-acre body of land, Epstein outfitted the island with towering palm trees, multiple buildings, and a helicopter pad, Bloomberg reports. "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. To the left, against the western wall, was a small black grand piano. Epstein bought the 72-acre Little St. Jamesfor $7.95 million in 1998. 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. Footage appears to show the them at the huge sundial, as well as the blue and white 'temple' that sits atop a hill. Both said that funeral services would be held at Menorah Chapels, later known as Menorah Gardens & Funeral Chapel, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Its been reported Epstein hid young girls he allegedly enslaved in underground rooms below the temple and other parts of the island. The compound was to feature an amphitheater, an underwater office, and pool, according to the Virgin Islands Daily News. Indeed, someone had left several comments about entering the temple, using the piano tuner's name. It had previously been sold to a developer who had chose to demolish the existing house. Jeffrey and Ghislaine have been together as a couple for the last 11 years, the note started. 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. The video follows the pair as they probe the $28.2 million islands secrets giving an insight into the lifestyle of the perverted billionaire. 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. 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. In the two months since Insider highlighted the structure, I've received dozens of tips about its true purpose. The interior consisted of only one large room; there weren't any doors or stairwells that may have led to other rooms. By mid-August, after speaking to the piano tuner who never tuned Epstein's piano, I was blocked and bewildered. 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. Berwick and Rudkowski said their excursion ultimately lasted 30 minutes, in which they ran through certain parts of the island and captured footage of Epstein's bizarre decorations, dumpsters, office buildings, and the notorious temple. 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. In February, executors of Epsteins estate claimed they would not be able pay out money to the pervs victims if the US Virgin Islands attorney general is allowed to freeze his assets, new court papers show. ", Another reader sent an annotated photo, below, that described the statues as harpies, the half-bird, half-human creatures of Greek and Roman mythology. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. "I wonder if it's a mausoleum with an Egyptian theme," one reader wrote. 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 wealthy lawyer who killed his wife and son at close range has been sentenced in one of the most troubling cases the judge said he had seen. Remember, the building was erected between 2009 and 2013. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. I didnt even think about it it was just, get me away.. She faces six criminal counts at trial, including enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts. I would never sign any lease agreements or contracts with such individuals as Jeffery Epstein or any of his co-conspirators.. 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. President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York, Angel Urena said in a statement. We now have a much clearer picture of the building's ostensible purpose. The 28,000-square-foot neoclassical townhouse first hit the market in July for nearly $90 million, but the price was cut shortly thereafter. 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. Everything We Know About the University of Idaho Murders. It has sadly become famous as being the location where much of his supposed abuse towards young girls took place. 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 reality is, in life, you will be both victim and villain. 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. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Verdict: Initially believable, but provably false. 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. "The colors, design, and direction of the stripes are strikingly similar to the design in Tutankhamun's Nemes headdress. The New Mexico ranch where Jeffrey Epstein allegedly trafficked several women has been on the market for the past six months without any offers. 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. Verdict: Certainly possible, but still unproven. The building undeniably resembles the blue-and-gold fabric headdress worn by pharaohs in ancient Egypt. We've received your submission. The leak was ruining the top of the piano, and the flooring. A few days after his Aug. 10 death, FBI agents and NYPD officials raided Little St. James, which locals told authorities they had nicknamed Pedophile Island.. The Wall Street Journal first reported the sale, citing the islands' listing agents. 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 shocking video of Jeffrey Epstein's notorious "Paedophile Island" has revealed a secret underground lair and an unusual "sex temple" with fake doors. 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WebEpstein's seven-story mansion in Manhattan also hit the market in July for $88 million, according to the Journal. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. (Confusing matters further is the disappearance or destruction of some of the building's architectural elements. In New Mexico, Epstein owned a 7,500-acre ranch that was appraised at over $18 million in 2013. James Both, a contractor whom Insider consulted with for the story, noted that while it was possible to install an underground space or elevator, the construction would have most likely been documented by a vendor to ensure regular inspections. 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. However, the New York City Department of Finance valued the home closer to $56 million earlier at another point that year. Oriol also requested a meeting to discuss development on Little St. James. 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. The music-room theory, it turns out, was the closest thing to the truth. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "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. WebIo Dodds writes. In the Netflix docuseries Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, one of the islands IT employees, Steve Skully, emphatically named Prince Andrew as one of the celebrity visitors he had seen on the island in 2004. Another royal joined the Epstein guest list. So did the story of Bill Barr swooping in to Epstein Island with cleaners, likely to get rid of the Trump evidence before it was found out. Why would Epstein, who had access to seemingly unlimited amounts of capital, choose a mural of an elaborate door over the real thing? 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. WebDid Jeffrey Epstein Kill Himself? 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.