CHAPTER 17 Alison: October 11, 2005 A fter speaking with Cynthia, Detectives Recarey and Dawson meet up, once again, with Alison. It’s been exactly one month since her arrest, and once again, she’s willing to talk. They have no trouble obtaining her sworn taped statement. Alison is eighteen, but she’s been going to Epstein’s house since 2002. Things got off to a slow start, she says. She received two hundred dollars for her first session, during which she had her bra off but her underwear on. Still, at the end of the session, Epstein had asked for her number. Then the sessions got heavier. Much heavier, as Detective Recarey already knew. [Alison] stated that during her many visits a routine was established between her and Epstein, he wrote in his report. She would enter the house and get naked in the bedroom. She would then start with a back massage. Epstein would roll on 74 to his back and allow he stated Epstein would the the same time would i masturbate her with his [Alison] explained 1 until he ejaculated. He sager on her vagina unti that during her frequen age, [and Alison] stated. not to tell anyone her re escalated within the hom [Alison] to have interco Marcinkova [sic]. [Alisor using strap on dildos, devices that Epstein had them have intercourse ( ally, Epstein would then intercourse and provide cinkova. This occurred d years of age. [Alison] advised this years. The routine beca assistant Sarah would te in the Town of Palm Be for her to visit and work new was introduced, ad offered for [Alison] to all sented to perform all the was an understanding wi tion would occur with i HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009223¶
FILTHY RICH CHAPTER 17 hia, Detectives Recarey and Daw- , with Alison. It’s been exactly one ind once again, she’s willing to talk. her sworn taped statement. e’s been going to Epstein’s house 1 slow start, she says. She received rst session, during which she had on. Still, at the end of the session, ber. er. Much heavier, as Detective Recarey at during her many visits a routine was ein, he wrote in his report. and get naked in the bedroom. She ck massage. Epstein would roll on 74 to his back and allow her to massage his chest area. [Alison] stated Epstein would then begin to masturbate himself and at the same time would insert his fingers in her vagina and masturbate her with his fingers. [Alison] explained Epstein would continue this process until he ejaculated. He would then utilize a vibrator/massager on her vagina until [Alison] climaxed. [Alison] advised that during her frequent visits, Epstein asked for her real age, [and Alison] stated she was sixteen. Epstein advised her not to tell anyone her real age. [Alison] advised that things escalated within the home as Epstein would instruct and pay [Alison] to have intercourse with his female friend, Nada Marcinkova [sic]. [Alison] explained the intercourse included using strap on dildos, large rubber penis[sic] and other devices that Epstein had at his disposal. Epstein would watch them have intercourse and masturbate himself. Occasionally, Epstein would then join in during the female on female intercourse and provide oral sex to both [Alison] and Marcinkova. This occurred during the time [Alison] was sixteen years of age. [Alison] advised this continued to escalate during two years. The routine became familiar to [Alison]. Epstein’s assistant Sarah would telephone her every time Epstein was in the Town of Palm Beach and would place appointments for her to visit and work for Epstein. Each time something new was introduced, additional monies were produced and offered for [Alison] to allow the acts to happen. [Alison] consented to perform all these acts but was adamant that there was an understanding with Epstein that no vaginal penetration would occur with his penis. [Alison] explained that 75 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009224¶
JAMES PATTERSON Epstein’s penis was deformed. [She] explained that his penis was oval shaped. [She] claimed when Epstein’s penis was erect, it was thick toward the bottom but was thin and small toward the head portion. [She] called Epstein’s penis “egg-shaped.” [She] stated Epstein would photograph Marcinkova and her naked and having sex and proudly display the photographs within the home. [Alison] stated during one visit to Epstein’s house in which she provided a massage to Epstein, his female friend, Nada [sic] Marcinkova, was also present. [Alison] provided the massage in which Marcinkova and her would fondle each other’s breasts and kiss for Epstein to enjoy. Towards the end of this massage, Epstein grabbed [Alison] and turned her over onto her stomach on the massage table and forcibly inserted his penis into her vagina: [Alison] stated Epstein began to pump his penis in her vagina. [She] became upset over this. She said her head was being held against the table forcibly, as he continued to pump inside her. She screamed “No!” and Epstein stopped. She told him that she did not want to have his penis inside of her. Epstein did not ejaculate inside of her and apologized for his actions and subsequently paid her a thousand dollars for that visit. [Alison] stated she knows he still displays her photographs through out the house. What happened to Mary had been bad enough. But what happened to Alison was on a whole other level. She’d been caught with some pot, sure. But that was hardly a felony offense. It didn’t make her a liar. And, in important respects, Alison’s statement had aligned with Mary’s and with statements they’d been given 76 by other girls, including Probably not. Almost ce also in line with what th Detective Recarey ar on the investigation that It was enough, Reitu search warrant.¶
TERSON FILTHY RICH she] explained that his penis d when Epstein’s penis was ottom but was thin and small she] called Epstein’s penis tein would photograph Marving sex and proudly display ne. [Alison] stated during one ch she provided a massage to la [sic] Marcinkova, was also massage in which Marcinkova r’s breasts and kiss for Epstein his massage, Epstein grabbed onto her stomach on the masted his penis into her vagina: n to pump his penis in her ver this. She said her head was rcibly, as he continued to pump 1” and Epstein stopped. She told o have his penis inside of her. de of her and apologized for his uid her a thousand dollars for knows he still displays her pho- Ise. been bad enough. But what hapole other level. She’d been caught vas hardly a felony offense. It didn’t ortant respects, Alison’s statement with statements they’d been given 76 by other girls, including Wendy Dobbs. Could Wendy be trusted? Probably not. Almost certainly not. But again, what she said was also in line with what the police had heard from other girls. Detective Recarey and his team had done exceptional work on the investigation that Officer Pagan had started. It was enough, Reiter decided, to cause a judge to issue a search warrant. 77 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009226¶
Inside the house, det that Mary and other gir naked young girls-in sc Epstein. They also find n names, dates, and numbe Sometimes there are bers: “I have girls for him These notes are signe Epstein’s house has : the bedrooms look almo: off Epstein’s bedroom, th holding strange machin find in a dermatologist’s ( In a wood-colored ar bottle of peach-flavored soaps shaped like penis more Joy Jelly, and boxes The officers find stacl and other B-list movies. They also find receip SlaveCraft: Roadmaps for On the first floor, det hidden in clocks. On th photographs of Wendy a come from the camera in The officers know wh install them-in 2004, ’ had stolen a gun and S: investigated that case. Bu man, Juan Alessi, for the CHAPTER 18 Michael Reiter: October 2005 n October 20, Palm Beach police officers execute a search warrant, signed by Judge Laura Johnson, at Jeffrey Epstein’s home on El Brillo Way. Inside the house, an employee is on the phone with Epstein. They ask him, politely, to hang up. Then, guns drawn, they walk up the winding stairs to the home’s second story. Detective Recarey remains outside and reads the warrant, out loud, to Epstein’s houseman while another officer videotapes them. “This is your copy,” Recarey says as he hands over the warrant. “When we are concluded, I will leave a list of what items we’ve taken, okay? I would ask that you don’t answer your telephone. I know that the gentleman was having a conversation with Mr. Epstein at the time. So I’m sure he’s trying to call and find out what’s going on. He will be told what was going on as soon as we’re done. Okay?” 78¶
FILTHY RICH Inside the house, detectives see the pink-and-green couch that Mary and other girls had described. They see photos of naked young girls—in some cases, girls they’ve spoken to about Epstein. They also find message pads on which are written first names, dates, and numbers for the girls. Sometimes there are notes to go with the names and numbers: “I have girls for him.” Or “I have 2 girls for him.” These notes are signed by one Sarah Kellen. Epstein’s house has a strangely antiseptic quality. Some of the bedrooms look almost like doctors’ offices. In the bathroom off Epstein’s bedroom, there’s a massage table as well as stands holding strange machines, which looked like something you’d find in a dermatologist’s office. In a wood-colored armoire beside Epstein’s bed, they see a bottle of peach-flavored Joy Jelly. In the bathroom, there are soaps shaped like penises and vaginas, bottles of Mango Mist, more Joy Jelly, and boxes of tampons. The officers find stacks of UFC videos and DVDs of Rock Star and other B-list movies. They also find receipts for books bought on Amazon, such as SlaveCraft: Roadmaps for Erotic Servitude. On the first floor, detectives are drawn to two secret cameras hidden in clocks. On the computer hard drive, they see several photographs of Wendy and other girls. These images appear to come from the camera inside the clock behind Epstein’s desk. The officers know where the cameras are because they helped install them-in 2004, when Epstein complained that someone had stolen a gun and $2,700 from him. Detective Recarey had investigated that case. But before he could arrest Epstein’s handyman, Juan Alessi, for the theft, Epstein contacted a captain in the CHAPTER 18 05 h police officers execute a search Laura Johnson, at Jeffrey Epstein’s Inside the house, an employee is ey ask him, politely, to hang up. p the winding stairs to the home’s outside and reads the warrant, out ile another officer videotapes them. ey says as he hands over the war- d, I will leave a list of what items k that you don’t answer your teleleman was having a conversation So I’m sure he’s trying to call and will be told what was going on as 78 79 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009228¶
JAMES PATTERSON Palm Beach PD and prevailed upon him to have the investigation called off. Epstein had met Alessi at a luncheonette, he explained, and Alessi had agreed to pay back the money. At the time, it made no sense to prosecute: Epstein was a busy man. He was going to get his money. But he did invite the police into his home to install the cameras. This was a service that the Palm Beach PD provided (though Epstein would be the only one with access to the footage). But while they were there, the police had noticed a group of attractive young women who seemed to be camped out at the house. The group included Sarah Kellen and Nadia Marcinkova. None of the girls was a relative of Epstein—that fact had caught the cops’ attention. And now, as the search continues, the cops see photographs of the very same girls. On Epstein’s desk, the officers find Alison’s high school transcript. The thing is, the detectives can’t shake the feeling that the Epstein house has been tidied up for their arrival. Shelves look as though they’ve been emptied, and several photographs appear to have been removed from the walls. “[Judging] by the condition of the place to be searched,” Chief Reiter will say in his deposition for B.B. vs. Epstein, “someone probably had cleaned it up a bit.” Maybe there’s nothing too surprising about this. After all, Reiter’s team knows that Epstein’s gotten wind of their investigation. What is surprising is that for a house that’s been scrubbed, there’s so much left lying around. In fact, the oddest thing about the search is that someone appears to have gone nating materials, but It was as if the th ister as wrong. There’s another feelin that they themselves First Reiter hears yers have hired pri checks. A public-records Reiter’s own records. Detective Recarey and that his trash ha In his entire care that Reiter’s seen or ing his investigators. ey’s doing great worl and for good reason Right now, more vic now that the warra interviewing Epstein 80¶
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him to have the investigation¶
cheonette, he explained, and money. At the time, it made no ousy man. He was going to get police into his home to install at the Palm Beach PD provided ly one with access to the foot- e police had noticed a group of emed to be camped out at the¶
llen and Nadia Marcinkova. tive of Epstein—that fact had¶
nues, the cops see photographs¶
cers find Alison’s high school¶
can’t shake the feeling that the up for their arrival. Shelves look , and several photographs appear walls. n of the place to be searched,” osition for B.B. vs. Epstein, “some- a bit.” surprising about this. After all, in’s gotten wind of their investiga- t for a house that’s been scrubbed, nd. about the search is that someone¶
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appears to have gone through the house, gotten rid of incriminating materials, but left many clues behind. It was as if the things the police were seeing didn’t even register as wrong.¶
There’s another feeling the cops can’t shake: the nagging sense that they themselves are being investigated and tailed. First Reiter hears through the grapevine that Epstein’s lawyers have hired private investigators to perform background checks. A public-records demand has been filed in an effort to obtain Reiter’s own records. Detective Recarey tells Reiter that he, too, is being surveilled and that his trash has been picked through. In his entire career as a police officer, this is the first time that Reiter’s seen or heard of such a thing: a suspect investigating his investigators. But for the moment, he puts it aside. Recarey’s doing great work on the investigation. He’s deeply invested, and for good reason: the detective’s got four kids of his own. Right now, more victims are coming out of the woodwork. And now that the warrant’s been executed, there’s no downside to interviewing Epstein’s servants.¶
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