PALM BEACH, Fla. — Twenty years after Jeffrey Epstein's arrest, WPTV is taking an in-depth look at one of Palm Beach's most disturbing chapters.
WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY BELOW:
Our team of journalists is examining the warning signs of grooming, connecting with survivors who are still living with the impact of Epstein's crimes, and digging into a case that advocates say exposed deep failures in the justice system.
Survivors describe the fear and shame they still carry decades later, while an attorney and therapist who worked with survivors reflect on what went wrong — and the changes still needed today.
TIMELINE
HOW WE GOT HERE
Palm Beach has long been synonymous with wealth, exclusivity, and privacy, but for dozens of survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, the island's manicured hedges and pristine streets conceal a darker history — one they say the justice system failed to fully reckon with.
"When I drive over that bridge, it's a whole new world," said Holly Baltz, a former investigative reporter for the Palm Beach Post. "They have an expectation of privacy, certainly. You know, and with their money, they can afford to buy that."
Attorney Spencer Kuvin, who represented some of Epstein's earliest accusers, described the island's dual legacy in stark terms.
"I think Palm Beach will forever be known as two things," Kuvin said. "It'll be known as the home of Jeffrey Epstein and the home of the president."
THE CHARGES, THE DEAL AND THE FALLOUT
In the very early stages of Epstein's investigation, at least 40 victims in the state of Florida gave statements regarding their abuse. However, Kuvin said the legal outcome sent a devastating message to the young women who came forward.
"These young girls are now adults, and they learned at a very early age that the system does not protect children," Kuvin said.
"My client was one of the original complainants," Kuvin said. "She was victim one."
