After Jeffrey Epstein’s August 2019 death, Ghislaine Maxwell effectively disappeared from public view for nearly a year, fueling speculation about whether she would be arrested and where she was. She was arrested by the FBI in July 2020 at a property in New Hampshire.
The period of disappearance:
Maxwell had already been living a low-profile existence in the years before Epstein’s arrest, relocating between properties including a home in London and reportedly a residence in New England. After Epstein’s death, she dropped entirely from public view. Her attorney’s occasional communications with courts (in civil proceedings) were her most visible presence.
Where she was found:
FBI agents located Maxwell at a large property — reportedly approximately 156 acres — in Bradford, New Hampshire, that she had purchased in December 2019, just after Epstein’s death. The property provided significant privacy. She had paid approximately $1 million for the property in cash.
How she was found:
FBI investigators tracked Maxwell through financial records, the property purchase paper trail, and surveillance. The purchase of the New Hampshire property, despite being made through an LLC, left a traceable record that investigators followed.
The arrest:
Maxwell was arrested on July 2, 2020, at the New Hampshire property. FBI agents moved in team to take her into custody. She was subsequently transferred to New York to face the Southern District of New York indictment charges.
Her initial resistance:
At the time of arrest, reports indicated Maxwell had to be “pried” from a room in the property. She was taken without significant incident and transported for federal processing in New York.
The Bradford property:
The property was subsequently placed in judicial proceedings related to her case.