Epstein paid $7.95 million for the island in 1998. Nor is he the only person who has publicly claimed to have done so. Two weeks prior to the FBI raids on Epstein Island, a drone filmed a team of workers doing heavy construction work on the island using tractors, bulldozers and tons of new material. Why is there so much underground ventilation? 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. But this is the kind of thing that Shackleford says he lives for. Comments that are off-topic or insulting to other users will be removed. The most recent . This account, including the framed photo, is believable, except for one key detail. From the start, locals on St Thomas whispered darkly about Epsteins activities, calling his private jets the Lolita Express. But he denied tuning pianos outside of Florida and South Carolina, or ever visiting the US Virgin Islands. When he was there, it was keep to yourself and do your thing, one of them told the AP, adding that the mogul would sometimes give away old material or surplus material. Dollar Vigilante author Jeff Berwick and Luke Rudkowski, of the organization We Are Change, shot the video on Little St. James, telling viewers they had unsuccessfully pleaded with multiple boat captains to take them there, eventually convincing one to drop them off for "five seconds.". Satellite photos show a sprawling network of terraces, cottages, beach houses, swimming pools, docks, utility buildings, a helipad, a tennis court, slipways, some kind of enclosed lake or lagoon, and various huts of unknown purpose, all connected by palm-lined roads where golf buggies ferried guests from place to place (a journey across the island reportedly took about five minutes). An altar to an ancient deity. Some of these similarities are debatable, and some are absurd, but it is difficult to ignore the sense that the building resembles something. According to Shackleford and locals, it was no secret what was happening on that island. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. Video from a drone flying above Jeffrey Epstein's home in the Virgin Islands provides a rare look inside his mysterious island temple. The magician David Copperfield is even said to have proposed to supermodel Claudia Schiffer there. 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. On the first excursion, he met a woman named Karen, who seemed to serve as the island's project manager. . Epstein's island is in the Virgin Islands right between the two largest islands - St. Thomas & St. John. No doubt about it Jeffrey enjoys his social life., This character is the cornerstone of the biggest scandal in American history, Shackleford says seriously. The persistence of this mystery is especially remarkable given the intense public scrutiny of Epstein and his circle since his arrest in July. In any case, these theories assert that Epstein built a designated structure to conceal his criminal activities and that he incorporated a series of obvious clues about those activities into the structure's design. Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. But based on historical satellite imagery from Google Maps, the blue-and-white building appeared on the island sometime between 2009 and 2013. He also based his shell companies in a small unmarked office in a seaside strip mall on St Thomas, alongside a Sams Mini-Mart and a salon called Happy Nails. 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.". Guests would arrive on one of Epsteins Gulfstream jets at Cyril E King Airport on St Thomas, in a private area separate from the main runway. ", 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. Many locals called it Orgy Island or the Island of Sin and local air traffic controllers told Vanity fair that they would see Epstein flying into St. James airport as often as twice a month with girls that looked like they could be in high school. A defiant gesture, like a raised middle finger, toward the rest of the world. The spiral shape, common in nature, has adorned buildings since the dawn of recorded history. Masonic lore, ritual, and symbolism are heavily based on the legend surrounding the Temple of Solomon. And the fact is, that this guy is essentially a nobody compared to who he is connected to.. Why would Epstein, who had access to seemingly unlimited amounts of capital, choose a mural of an elaborate door over the real thing? In order to travel to Little St. James, Epstein would fly into St. Thomas International Airport and fly by helicopter or take a fifteen-minute boat ride. A great number of comments on the YouTube video state that this man looks suspiciously like Jeffrey Epstein who died a couple of weeks prior. Its like something straight out of a Bond film. That is not what is happening. This theory is based on three separate accounts. A thorough investigation of Epstein Island would most likely lead to some extremely disturbing discoveries. These are all features of Jeffery Epsteins private Virgin Isle. Forget about the coy smiles, charming demeanor, and the gift of gab that embody many popular politicians, Hollywood, and the Elite. Renowned British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking enjoys a barbecue on Jeffrey Epstein's Caribbean island Little St James while attending a conference on St Thomas in March 2006. 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. He also signed JE in the false depth perception.. The reader did not want to be named, but I was able to verify their longtime residence in the US Virgin Islands. The complaint also alleges that Little St James served as a prison for the victims, with Epstein controlling all communication with the outside world. As a sex offender, Epstein was required to re-register every year and officials did try to visit the island in 2018 to verify his address. But every other detail seemed to match the temple. He's a lot of fun to be with. Indeed, someone had left several comments about entering the temple, using the piano tuner's name. And we connect the dots to Epstein's girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell and her daddy Roger Maxwell and his ties to the MO. A massive mansion, two private beaches, three personal office bungalows, helicopter pads, a yacht, an elaborate, doorless sex temple, a cultish looking sundial with seating for twenty, construction vehicles, an ambulance and an inexplicable underground ventilation system. I have been running surveillance in one way or another for 22 months, Rusty Shackleford tells me, over which time this vigilante filmmaker has been tailed, chased and had his life threatened. The same photo compared the building's exterior to the striped flag of Greece and noted that "sex between adults and minors was common in ancient Greece.". One day he returned from the beach in great mirth: one of his companions had stepped on a sea urchin and he had urinated on her foot to salve it. And what was the significance of the mattresses? It brought some kind of notoriety to the Virgin Islands, he said. (Little Saint James). And thanks to one youtuber, now, you can take an HD drone tour of Jeffery Epsteins freak island. On this island, the complaint says: Epstein and his associates could avoid detection of their illegal activity from Virgin Islands and federal law enforcement, and prevent these young women and underage girls from leaving freely and escaping the abuse.. ". They looked like they had stepped out of an underwear catalogue, Cathy told The Mail. If Epstein wanted to perpetrate crimes without interference, why would he do so in the most conspicuous building on his private island? Jeffrey Epstein, the well-connected sex criminal who died by suicide in federal custody, owned a 70-acre private island in the US Virgin Islands known as Little St. James. Donald Trump Missed Melanias Birthday, Was Too Busy Ranting Online. The power company, the [Department of Planning and Natural Resources], local police, banks, literally the entire government infrastructure is corrupt bottom to top. The fact that mass media has been propagating this piece of fake news is telling. You'll notice what appears to be construction-grade scaffolding, two stacks of small mattresses, and an easel: These developments were mystifying. Berwick and Rudkowski didn't enter the temple its windows appeared to be boarded up but they got a close-up look at the medieval-looking door that has inspired endless speculation. Which was something corroborated by a local air traffic controller, who told Vanity Fair that he and his coworkers would regularly see Epstein getting off his helicopter and onto his plane with children well after he became a registered sex offender in 2011. Maybe Scully never entered the building and only heard about its interior from someone else. 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. But he did remember who greeted him on Little St. James. The building, by contrast, is shaped like a rectangle and has no covered porch to speak of. . Considering the fact that Epstein is dead, why is there still maintenance on the island and who is paying these workers? If you appreciated this article, please consider making a donation. This last video contains another strange detail. What was this place to Jeffery Epstein? 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. But what is the truth about Little St James, the 75-acre private paradise in the US Virgin Islands that billionaire sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein once called home? Epstein, who was found dead of an apparent suicide over the weekend, owned two properties in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The documents clearly show a building designed to show off a grand piano. Stay up to date with what you want to know. In fact, the complaint describes Little St James as just one step in a worldwide web of private flights that ferried sex trafficking victims to London, Paris, Tangier, Granada, St Louis, Palm Beach, Atlantic City and beyond. However, Baron visited the island in 2012, and when he went to Little St. James, he didn't enter a building with blue and white stripes & painted arches. Masked men on jet-skis have stalked him, Epsteins own helicopter has buzzed his boat and people online have sent him numerous death threats. The couples unease grew until they finally quit in 2007. Recently high resolution drone footage of Jeffery Epstein's private island, Little St James Island, has emerged. The building is isolated . We can see construction workers, heavy machinery and bags of material, possibly concrete. Previous videos shot by drones before the windows were boarded up also showed a stack of mattresses in the building, and an easel. Epstein's victims were young women and girls. Indeed, all the temple's external archways were illusions, painted on the building's featureless, flat surface as a trompe l'oeil: In a second video, Shackleford's drone captured a portion of the building's interior, seen through one of the side windows. We would much rather that the Virgin Islands be seen in a different light.. Anyone not directly involved in something illegal is being paid to look the other way, he says. Privacy Policy and That's the right location. Theorists have variously described it as the entrance to an underground lair, an altar to an Egyptian deity, a burial ground for his parents, or a site of ritual sexual abuse, but an investigation by Business Insider concluded that it was most likely a private study and music room for Epstein. Scully claimed that his client used the building for exercise. Donald Trump reportedly flew on one of Epsteins private jets, but it is unclear if he visited the island. As part of Albanys new budget agreement, all newly constructed buildings would have to produce zero-emissions, barring oil and natural gas. Filming through a sliding glass door, the camera shows a plastic-wrapped mattress on the ground and box spring turned up on its side. Justice Department lawyers said in a court filing that the suspected leaker had a history of making disturbing comments online. National Abortion Ban Is a Trap for 2024 Republicans. I was just too excited to be on this beautiful island with a day to myself and this amazing piano. This was how I verified and contacted the first piano tuner, who said he never serviced Epstein's piano on Little St. James. Yet here was a seemingly solvable mystery for which I could not find a solution. The men briefly rifled through a number of dumpsters on the island, capturing footage of items like crates, suitcases, picture frames, and buckets. Epstein was fond of treating the guests, reportedly paying for a submarine to be modified to give a sea bed tour to Professor Hawking, who had never been underwater before. Remember, the building was erected between 2009 and 2013. I don't know who gave you my name." The island featured in Ghislaine Maxwells sex trafficking trial in December. In order to maintain the integrity of the scene, law enforcement must take action to block off the surrounding area as well as keep track of who comes in and goes out. The bookcases were filled with hardcover bestsellers. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. According to the Associated Press, workers on the island thought the temple was a place for Epstein, a classically trained pianist, to practice music. 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. To many, it seems as if there is an underground structure of some kind hidden beneath the island surface, safe from the prying eyes of Rusty Shackleford. found dead of an apparent suicide over the weekend, designed with locks to keep people inside, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It is however his YouTube handle, the name you can search for his videos under, and its the alias I interviewed his as so its how Ill refer to him in this article. According to employees on the island, that temple was either one of two things: 1) a work out room/gym for Mr. Epstein to get his swol on, or 2) an acoustically balanced piano room where the classically trained Epstein would go to tickle the keys of some baby grand for fun. Travelers frequently ask about it and some local boat operators make it part of their tours. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Have a tip about Epstein or his island? All rights reserved. The Temple being a gym or an acoustically balanced piano room are absurd and absolutely not the case, Shackleford says. This footage gives a clearer view of the tunnels under Epstein's Island as well as the statues on top of the temple on Epstein's Island. The bookcases went high enough to require a ladder. 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. We have a clear conscience that we didnt witness anything untoward.. 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. 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. How much more time and energy was I willing to spend on a story with so many dead ends? Baron didn't recall much about the boat's captain. One former employee described it as a Zen-like retreat where the financier would stroll around in flip-flops, with meditative music playing from speakers and the women often sunbathing topless. Baron described the structure as a "relatively small building" near the island's coast, far away from the other structures on the island. There is no clear evidence that Epstein constructed a special facility for abusing children or sacrificing them to Moloch or any other deity. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. The building has inspired countless . Terrific guy," Trump said, according to New York Magazine. The island's southwestern corner features an unusual blue-and-white-striped building that resembles a temple or place of worship. I felt no closer to understanding the history of the building or the local lore around it. Up until now, though, Epsteins island has remained an enigma; a place that people could only peer at through binoculars and wonder. Horus was in control of the sun and the moon. At the other end from Epsteins manor is a squat, boxy blue and white striped structure often referred to as a temple, surrounded by a terrace with a red labyrinth motif. 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. Baron is almost certainly not the only person who stepped inside the blue-and-white building. , Exposing the Truth is the only way forward., The entire island is strange, as is everything and everyone on it. He didn't recall seeing any blue and white stripes on the exterior. Rusty Shackleford began to receive internet fame for posting videos about Epstein's Little Saint James (LSJ) captured from his drone, so what exactly happened to him. The hosts misogyny is a leading theory for his sudden downfall. This was . The Fed chair thought he was talking to Zelenskyy and gave unusually direct answers to big questions about the economy and interest rates. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Recently released drone footage took some close-up shots of the temple, revealing several strange details. Incredibly, the first president to conceal a television behind the, Republicans Get Prize Recruit Jim Justice to Take On Joe Manchin. Jerome Powell Got Punked by Russian Prank Callers. 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. When scuba divers swam near the island, security guards would reportedly appear to patrol the edge of the water. The drone filmed an older white man who doesnt appear to be a worker talking with another man. That said, it's possible Epstein designed the building as a future burial ground for his parents but never got around to having their remains shipped to the island. Notice that there are several NYPD agents investigating this island in the Bahamas. She was convicted of five sex-trafficking charges and was sentenced to 20 years behind bars plus a $750,000 fine on Tuesday, 28 June. Our job was about discretion. 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. And the fact is, that this guy is essentially a nobody compared to who he is connected to.. Shortly after my original post about the building was published, a reader in St. John emailed: "I have it on good authority his parents are buried there. 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 underground tunnels are clearly visible under the temple, which many researchers believe could be an elevator shaft. Inside the temple are several mattresses and scaffolding. But it also points to yet another mystery, one that may never be answered: What was Jeffrey Epstein doing on the rest of his island, and with whom? Wikipedia, Crime Scene. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Evidence that has become contaminated, tampered with, or mistreated can pollute the scene and cause a case to be thrown out of court. In our final meeting, [Epstein] told me I had always been his conscience, Alexander said. What We Know. The rest of the room appears largely empty but messy, with exposed wires visible and broken pieces of wood lying about. Two beds are neatly arranged on the ground next to the door and the room is filled with construction equipment. Graphic images showing injuries to Jeffrey Epstein's neck after he allegedly hanged himself inside his New York City jail cell have surfaced this week as suspicions linger surrounding how the . Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. 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.". Using color correction, the drone was able to provide a clearer view of whats inside the mysterious room. Recently high resolution drone footage of Jeffery Epstein's private island, Little St James Island, has emerged. 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. 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. Except, Epstein, his island and the sex empire he ran are not works of fiction they are all too real.