Origins of the Investigation
The Palm Beach Police Department’s Epstein investigation began in March 2005 when the mother of a 14-year-old girl reported to police that her daughter had been sexually abused at a mansion at 358 El Brillo Way.
The complaint was assigned to Detective Joseph Recarey, a sex crimes investigator with the PBPD.
What Recarey Found
Recarey conducted a systematic investigation:
Phase 1 — Initial Victim: The original complainant’s daughter provided testimony that established the basics: she had been paid to give a massage, the massage became sexual, the man was wealthy and lived in the El Brillo Way mansion.
Phase 2 — Victim Network Identification: Recarey identified other potential victims through:
- Phone records from the mansion
- Names given by the initial victim
- Outreach to families in working-class Palm Beach neighborhoods
Phase 3 — Expanded Victim Interviews: By the end of the investigation, Recarey had identified and interviewed approximately 40 girls and young women who described similar experiences:
- Recruited through peer referral or direct contact
- Paid $200-300 for “massages”
- Massages became sexual
- Some victims were directed to perform or participate in sexual acts with additional people
Phase 4 — Corroboration: Beyond victim testimony, Recarey collected:
- Phone records
- Calendar and appointment book entries
- Financial payment records
- Background investigation of Epstein himself
The Recommendations
Based on the investigation, Recarey and the PBPD recommended charges including:
- Aggravated assault
- Molestation
- Lewd and lascivious behavior
- Procurement of minors for prostitution
These charges, if prosecuted federally as trafficking, would have carried decades of potential imprisonment.
The Referral to Barry Krischer
The PBPD referred the case to Palm Beach State Attorney Barry Krischer, who was responsible for the state-level prosecution decision. The subsequent prosecution collapse — with Krischer’s office reducing charges to a single solicitation count — is analyzed separately.
When Recarey and PBPD Chief Michael Reiter concluded Krischer was not pursuing the case aggressively, they made the unusual step of contacting the FBI directly.
Recarey’s Own Account
Detective Recarey later described his frustration at watching the case be reduced:
- The evidence was strong
- Victim testimony was consistent and corroborated
- The trafficker-style structure of the operation was clearly documented
His case file formed the foundation for all subsequent investigations.