Daily Mail Exposes Brice and Karen Gordon's 17-Year Secret Involvement in Epstein's Zorro Ranch

The shadowy caretakers of Zorro Ranch, Brice and Karen Gordon, spent 17 years managing Jeffrey Epstein's sprawling real estate empire, a role that placed them at the heart of one of the most enigmatic and troubling chapters in modern American history. Until recently, their involvement in Epstein's affairs remained largely obscured, hidden behind layers of secrecy and legal complexity. However, a recent investigation by the *Daily Mail* has peeled back the curtain, revealing the extent to which the New Zealand-born couple were entangled in Epstein's operations—and the dark legacy they left behind.

The couple's names first surfaced in public discourse when New Mexico's legislature launched a 'truth commission' to investigate allegations of sexual abuse and other crimes at Zorro Ranch, a 7,622-acre estate located 23 miles south of Santa Fe. The ranch, with its airstrip, firehouse, guesthouses, and cattle operation, has long been a focal point of speculation, including unproven rumors of secret human experiments, a rumored 'super-race' project involving Epstein's DNA, and accusations of violent sexual encounters leading to deaths and burials on the property. At the center of these allegations stood the Gordons, whose presence on the ranch and Epstein's private island, Little St. James, in the Virgin Islands, was both extensive and unpublicized until now.

Andrea Romero, a New Mexico state representative who spearheaded the truth commission, has labeled the Gordons 'people of interest' in the state's ongoing investigation. She emphasized the urgency of locating the couple, noting that their disappearance has complicated efforts to uncover the full scope of Epstein's activities. 'That's one of the reasons we need the commission,' she said in late 2022, 'so we can track them down.' Reports from individuals claiming to have been drugged and subjected to medical procedures on the ranch have further fueled the need for answers. Yet the Gordons have remained elusive, their whereabouts unknown since Epstein's death in 2019, with former ranch workers admitting they have no contact with the couple.

Brice Gordon, a former member of the New Zealand Defence Force, was known as 'Cowboy Bill' by Epstein's staff, a nickname that reflected his military background and apparent aptitude for handling firearms. Emails released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) reveal that Brice was responsible for managing the ranch's firearms storage, a role that became particularly contentious during Epstein's 2010 house arrest in Florida. In one email, Epstein instructed Brice to acquire 'as many guns as you are allowed,' including high-powered rifles, to stockpile weapons ahead of the end of his sentence. The need to secure these weapons off the property likely stemmed from legal concerns, as the DOJ documents suggest Brice proposed transferring them to a man known as Larry—possibly Epstein's pilot, Larry Visoski—or renting a storage unit in Albuquerque.

Karen Gordon, Brice's wife, managed the interior operations of Epstein's residences, frequently coordinating with his longtime girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, on tasks such as food shopping and cleaning arrangements. Despite her loyalty to Epstein, Karen occasionally expressed frustration in internal emails. In 2013, she responded to a request from Epstein's assistant, Lesley Groff, about operation manuals for Little St. James with a sharp rebuke: '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!!!' Her candor, while rare, underscores the tension that sometimes existed between the Gordons and Epstein's inner circle.

The couple's role in Epstein's operations extended beyond mere caretaking. Emails reveal their coordination with Epstein's accountant, Richard Kahn, on logistical matters ranging from cattle grazing to arranging visits from high-profile guests. These guests included filmmaker Woody Allen, former Prince Andrew, billionaire Leon Black, and Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. In one exchange, Groff mistakenly referred to bin Sulayem as 'Sultan,' prompting Brice to inquire about a security detail. Groff's response—'I know he has been to JE's house and I don't recall security detail (not like when Prince Andrew was here!)'—highlighted the irregularity of security protocols at Epstein's properties.

Brice's involvement with the FBI in 2007 offers a rare glimpse into the couple's perspective on Epstein's operations. During an interview, Brice told agents that he and Karen had been managing the ranch for four years and that Epstein spent about 50 days annually on the property. He also addressed the hiring of masseuses, clarifying that they were sourced locally from Ten Thousand Waves Day Spa in Santa Fe or through referrals, rather than being flown in by Epstein. However, the interview was cut short when Brice received a call from what he described as the 'main office,' instructing him to stop speaking with agents. He complied immediately, leaving the FBI with incomplete information.

As Epstein's legal troubles mounted, so too did tensions between the financier and his caretakers. In early 2019, Richard Kahn relayed a message from Brice to Epstein, describing the caretaker's proposals as 'crazy.' Brice had suggested wiping the phones on Little St. James, handing them over to an unnamed recipient, and restricting the Zorro Ranch credit card to ranch-only purchases. Epstein's response was blunt: 'It's ok, I will ask him to leave. Give him a week. or so. I've had it.' Despite this, Epstein later encouraged the Gordons to return to Zorro Ranch and even suggested a vacation in New Zealand, signaling a brief reconciliation before his eventual death.

Epstein's final will, titled *The 1953 Trust*, awarded Brice Gordon $2 million, a staggering sum that underscores the couple's significance in Epstein's life. However, the estate has since been embroiled in legal battles with Epstein's victims, making it unlikely that the money will ever reach the former caretaker. The Gordons' disappearance and the unresolved questions surrounding Zorro Ranch continue to haunt the investigation, with authorities preparing to search the property for evidence that could finally bring light to the darkest corners of Epstein's empire.