Investigators in New Mexico started a search on Monday of the former ranch owned by Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier accused of sexually abusing women and underage girls, state authorities confirmed. The property is located roughly 30 miles south of Santa Fe.

The search follows the January release of documents from the U.S. Department of Justice, which included allegations that Epstein ordered the burial of two foreign girls near the secluded property. These revelations prompted New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez to reopen the investigation into Epstein’s activities at the ranch, decades after the alleged crimes occurred.

“The New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead,” officials said in a statement.

On Monday, witnesses observed government vehicles, including a unit marked with a paw-print symbol that suggested the presence of search dogs, entering and leaving the ranch. State police and county fire and rescue teams were also present during the operation.

Epstein, who died in 2019, previously avoided a full investigation at the state level after New Mexico authorities closed a case at the request of federal officials. No comprehensive inquiry has ever been conducted into alleged assaults by Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, or visitors to the property.

In 2023, Epstein’s estate sold the ranch to Texas businessman Don Huffines, who renamed it San Rafael Ranch. The new owners are cooperating with the investigation, providing access for searches.

New Mexico also recently became the first state to launch a legislative “truth commission” aimed at uncovering potential public corruption that allowed Epstein to operate at the ranch for 26 years without scrutiny. The DOJ’s document release in January further detailed Epstein’s network of associates, including politicians, business leaders, and scientists who visited the property.

Authorities have not released additional details regarding evidence found during Monday’s search, but officials emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and focused on supporting survivors and following leads wherever they emerge.