The enigmatic stewards of Zorro Ranch were responsible for more than simply overseeing Jeffrey Epstein’s extensive property portfolio over a 17-year period.

Until recently, little was known about Brice and Karen Gordon, the New Zealand couple at the heart of the ranch’s operations. However, a recent investigation by the Daily Mail has shed light on the depths of their involvement in Epstein’s secretive world.

The Gordons are now sought for questioning as authorities gear up to search the estate, spurred by persistent, troubling tales of the activities allegedly taking place during their tenure.

Located 23 miles south of Santa Fe, the ranch has become infamous due to disturbing allegations. These include unverified claims of clandestine human experiments, a purported scheme to engineer a ‘super-race’ with Epstein’s DNA, and horrifying accusations of young women being killed during violent encounters and buried on the property.

At the core of these operations were the Gordons—ex-members of the New Zealand Defence Force. Their names appear extensively in recent Justice Department documents, indicating their roles not only at Zorro Ranch but also on Epstein’s secluded island, Little St. James, in the Virgin Islands.

This elusive couple is believed to have been in Epstein’s employ from the early 2000s until the case against him erupted in 2019, leading to the disappearance of his notorious associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Their names first came up after New Mexico’s legislature launched a ‘truth commission’ last month to investigate whether Epstein sexually abused other girls and young women on the 7,622-acre ranch with its own airstrip, firehouse, guesthouses and cattle operation.

Andrea Romero, the New Mexico state representative who spearheaded the commission, told the Daily Mail she considers the Gordons to be ‘people of interest’ in the state investigation and likely will subpoena them to testify about their knowledge of potential crimes on the ranch.

Jeffrey Epstein’s sprawling Zorro Ranch, where he was seen in a photo released by the Department of Justice, has long been the subject of intrigue due to allegations that it was the site of human experimentation and the killing of trafficked women 

Light has been shed on the life of mustachioed Brice Gordon and his wife Karen, both former members of the New Zealand Defence Force

The couple served as caretakers of Zorro Ranch and Little St. James Island for 17 years, overseeing renovations and household tasks while arranging travel and accommodations for Epstein’s high-profile circle of friends at his estates

She told the Daily Mail late last year that neither she nor other state officials knew the Gordons’ whereabouts – a question she deemed ‘disturbing.’

‘That’s one of the reasons we need the commission, so we can track them down,’ said Romero, who in November told us that her office was receiving reports from people claiming to have been drugged and had sex organs and sperm harvested from their bodies on Zorro Ranch.

Several former ranch workers told the Daily Mail they are not aware of the Gordons’ whereabouts and have not been in touch with them since Epstein’s death in 2019.

Karen and Brice have not been in touch with any of their former coworkers since Epstein’s death in 2019, ranch workers told the Daily Mail

Through emails, it appears their military backgrounds made them well-suited for the job. Brice, now 65, regularly corresponded with Epstein about renovation projects, and sources said his experience also made him a ‘good shot.’

The latest DOJ drop offers the first photos of Brice at the ranch, including one of him holding a long-barreled firearm beside an unnamed guest.

Zorro Ranch was reportedly popular for its shooting range, and Brice appeared to supervise the activity – in another photo, he is seen holding the tail of a small dead animal.

Emails released by the DOJ show that Brice Gordon, nicknamed ‘Cowboy Bill’ by Epstein’s secretary Lesley Groff, also managed the ranch’s firearms storage.

In March 2010 – two years after Epstein was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution, and while he was serving house arrest in Florida – he instructed Brice to obtain ‘as many guns as you are allowed,’ including high-powered rifles, seeking to stockpile weapons ahead of the end of his house arrest, one of the emails says.

A cluster of staff houses sits on the Zorro Ranch estate where Brice – nicknamed ‘Cowboy Bill’ by Epstein’s staff – and Karen lived, one mile south of the main mountaintop residence

Brice was pictured in the recent DOJ files wielding a long-barreled gun. Staff who worked on the property said he was a ‘good shot’ 

Brice showing an unnamed guest at the ranch the barrel of the gun 

The newly released emails between Gordon and Epstein suggest that the caretaker oversaw the ranch’s firearms storage. A large gun cabinet sat in the dining room of the property

In March 2010, two years after Epstein’s conviction and while under house arrest, he told Brice to secure ‘as many guns as you are allowed,’ including high-powered rifles

Three months later, Brice proposed storing the weapons either by giving them to a man known only as Larry or renting a storage unit in Albuquerque

Three months later, Brice outlined possible storage arrangements for when Epstein visited: transferring the weapons to a man identified only as Larry to keep them off the property, or renting a storage unit in Albuquerque.

The need to remove the ranch’s weapons was likely aimed at ensuring Epstein did not jeopardize the conclusion of his sentence in August and remained in compliance with his legal requirements.

Larry is likely Larry Visoski, Epstein’s pilot, to whom the financier gifted a plot of land on the Zorro Ranch property for a vacation home.

The Gordons also coordinated closely with Epstein and senior staff, including Groff and accountant Richard Kahn, on matters ranging from cattle grazing to arranging visits from high-profile guests at Zorro Ranch and his private island, Little Saint James, off St. Thomas, the emails reveal.

Visitors named in these proposed schedules included filmmaker Woody Allen, the former Prince Andrew; Jawbone CEO Hosain Rahman; pioneering computer scientist Danny Hillis; billionaire Leon Black; and Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.

In June 2011, Groff spoke to Brice about ‘Sultan’ coming to the ranch, clarifying that he wasn’t the actual Sultan but a ‘very rich man from the UAE’.

Brice asked if he would have a security detail, to which Groff cheekily answered: ‘I know he has been to JE’s house and I don’t recall security detail (not like when Prince Andrew was here!).’

Meanwhile, Brice’s wife Karen, 64, managed the interior operations of Epstein’s homes, frequently coordinating with his longtime girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, on food shopping lists and cleaning arrangements.

After more than 16 years in the role, she appeared comfortable enough to be openly snarky about Epstein in official emails to his inner circle, including Lesley Groff.

Brice spoke with Epstein and his assistant, Lesley Groff, about arranging visits to the ranch and LSJ for filmmaker Woody Allen 

Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem was one of Epstein’s guests at Zorro, according to an email released by the DOJ

Groff initially caused confusion for referring to him as ‘Sultan’, clarifying after Brice asked about a security detail that he wasn’t ‘THE Sultan’

In a 2013 exchange, Groff asked whether Karen was making progress on the operation manuals Epstein had commissioned for Little Saint James – a request that reportedly prompted an indignant response from the New Zealand native.

‘Not sure when this became my task… Basically at this point I am still cleaning up all the areas/mess left by construction, at the same time working Zorro & LSJ  – what more does he want!!!’

When Groff attempted to placate the older woman, Karen wrote: ‘To be honest Lesley – whatever – he is all over the place…’

Despite occasional moments of tension while working for Epstein, Brice and Karen Gordon’s loyalty to the disgraced financier was perhaps most evident during a brief FBI interview at Zorro Ranch in August 2007.

According to the report, Brice told agents that he and his wife had been managing the ranch for four years and that Epstein spent roughly 50 days a year on the property.

Crucially, he also addressed the hiring of masseuses, telling investigators they were not typically flown in by Epstein, but instead sourced locally by the Gordons – either from Ten Thousand Waves Day Spa in Santa Fe or through referrals. He added that the women were licensed.

The interview, however, ended abruptly when Brice received a phone call from what he described as the ‘main office,’ instructing him to stop speaking with agents. He immediately complied.

Towards the end of his long-standing stewardship, Brice would once again butt heads with Epstein – as the legal noose began to tighten around the pedophile.

Brice’s wife, Karen, was equally comfortable in her role, pushing back at Epstein’s assistant when he tried to saddle her with additional work 

In 2007, Brice told the FBI that masseuses at Zorro Ranch weren’t flown in but were sourced locally by the Gordons, either from Ten Thousand Waves Day Spa in Santa Fe (pictured) or through referrals 

Brice frequently dealt with Richard Kahn, Epstein’s accountant and executor of his estate

In one tense moment, Kahn forwarded a message to Epstein that Brice sent to him, saying ‘More Brice craziness below..’ after the caretaker sent him a list of things to do on LSJ that bordered on paranoid

The messages from 2019 came seven months before Epstein would be arrested for the final time, but irked the financier enough that he made the decision to move him saying ‘Ive had it’

Brice Gordon was included in Epstein’s final will, awarding him $2million 

On January 4, 2019, Epstein and accountant Kahn, who was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to testify this month, discussed what Kahn described as Brice Gordon’s ‘crazy’ behavior.

In a forwarded email to Epstein, Kahn included a message from the caretaker that read: ‘Proposing… We reset/ Wipe both LSJ phone and hand in to [redacted] who will also receive Sat Phones Chargers and VHF radios.’

Brice also proposed shredding Epstein’s Little St James credit card, restricting the Zorro Visa card to ranch-only purchases and assigning property car keys to specific staff members.

Above the forwarded message, Kahn wrote: ‘More Brice craziness below…’

Epstein responded bluntly: ‘It’s ok, I will ask him to leave. Give him a week. or so. I’ve had it.’

Kahn replied: ‘His behavior shows his head is elsewhere…’

Then just five days later, on January 9, Epstein appeared to send the Gordons back to Zorro Ranch and encouraged them to return to New Zealand for a vacation in March.

Whatever the dispute had been, it seemed to pass.

On August 8, 2019, shortly before his death, Epstein included Brice in his final will – titled The 1953 Trust – awarding him $2million. 

It is unlikely the former caretaker received that money because the estate has been tied up by legal claims from Epstein’s victims.