A tipster claimed to have discovered multiple dug-up plots resembling graves during a 2020 break-in at Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro Ranch in New Mexico and shared photos of the sites with state lawmakers last month.

The anonymous individual emailed Democratic Representatives Andrea Romero and Marianna Anaya on February 16, admitting the trespass might have been illegal but stating that "men like that don’t deserve the protection of the law." The email included two images showing the purported plots along with photos of the ranch's mansion exterior, a white yurt, a defibrillator, and a statue described as depicting a man of African appearance found inside the yurt. The tipster speculated that bodies had been removed from the sites and suggested rituals may have occurred in the yurt, noting the presence of the defibrillator.

Romero forwarded the correspondence to Kyle Hartsock, director of special investigations at the New Mexico Department of Justice, who responded that the tip was "being looked into." Romero told Al Jazeera that investigators would determine the veracity of the claims but declined further comment.

The disclosure comes amid heightened scrutiny of the 7,400-acre property, located 30 miles south of Santa Fe. Epstein purchased Zorro Ranch in 1993 from former New Mexico Governor Bruce King and developed a hilltop mansion with a private runway. Nearly a dozen accusers have alleged sexual abuse there, though he faced no charges in the state. Following Epstein's 2019 death, the ranch sold to the family of former Texas state Senator Don Huffines.

State authorities began searching the property around March 12 as part of a reopened criminal investigation ordered by Attorney General Raúl Torrez last month. New Mexico lawmakers also formed a task force to probe Epstein's activities and potential public corruption related to the ranch. No findings from the searches have been reported publicly, including on claims of buried remains or a stolen 300-year-old "Death Bell" from a local mission church.

The tipster's claims echo a 2019 anonymous email released in recent U.S. Department of Justice Epstein files. Sent to radio host Eddy Aragon from an encrypted account claiming to be a former ranch employee, it alleged two foreign girls died by strangulation during "rough, fetish sex" and were buried on Epstein's orders, along with a reference to "Madam G," likely Ghislaine Maxwell. The sender offered videos depicting Epstein with minors in exchange for one bitcoin. Aragon forwarded it to the FBI, which provided no follow-up.

New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard urged state and federal prosecutors on February 10 to investigate public lands adjacent to the ranch, noting Epstein's company once held terminated leases there. The Department of Justice described the 2019 allegation as unsubstantiated but requested unredacted documents for review.

Prior probes stalled: A 2019 state inquiry closed at federal prosecutors' request, and the FBI never searched Zorro Ranch despite tips. Investigations continue with no confirmed evidence of burials to date.