Question
What role did Palm Beach Police play in the initial Epstein investigation?
Answer
The Palm Beach Police Department initiated the investigation that first documented Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes, beginning in March 2005 when a parent contacted police about her 14-year-old daughter.
Detective Joseph Recarey: Detective Joseph Recarey led the investigation. His work was meticulous by all accounts — he identified multiple victims, built corroborating evidence through multiple victim interviews, and assembled a case record that documented systemic abuse.
By the conclusion of Recarey’s investigation, Palm Beach Police had identified more than 36 underage girls as victims. The case file documented:
- Patterns of recruitment through the referral network
- Payments made to victims
- Staff members who facilitated access
- Names of potential co-conspirators
The referral to the state: Palm Beach Police referred the case to Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer for prosecution. Recarey and the police department reportedly expected substantial state charges to follow from the documented evidence.
The letdown: Under State Attorney Krischer, the case was taken through a grand jury process that resulted in a single felony prostitution charge — far less than what the evidence record supported. Recarey and other investigators were reportedly frustrated by what they saw as inadequate prosecution.
Federal referral: Because of dissatisfaction with the state response, Palm Beach Police took the unusual step of sending the case directly to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office. This referral led to the federal investigation that eventually resulted in the — also controversial — NPA.
Recarey’s legacy: Recarey has been described by victims’ advocates as one of the few officials who did his job properly in the initial phase of the case. He died in 2018, before the full story became public.
Sources
- Palm Beach Police Department case files (2005-2007)
- Miami Herald investigative reporting (2018)
- Civil litigation documentation