US Arts School Investigation Uncovers Decades of Abuse, Links to Epstein

A sweeping investigation into historical abuse at the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan has brought to light 70 allegations of misconduct, spanning over six decades and involving 47 faculty and staff members. The independently commissioned report, released by Sanghavi Law Office, also includes disturbing new allegations implicating the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a former donor to the institution.

Widespread Misconduct Alleged

The 97-page report, initiated in 2024 following earlier allegations against several faculty members, expanded its scope to include Epstein's alleged involvement. Investigators gathered testimonies from former students detailing a pattern of abuse that ranged from grooming and inappropriate behavior to outright sexual contact. The incidents reported occurred between the 1950s and the 2010s, with the majority concentrated before the turn of the millennium.

Jeffrey Epstein, who attended Interlochen's summer camp in 1967 and contributed over $400,000 to the school between 1990 and 2003, is named in the report. Two former students have accused the disgraced financier of sexual misconduct during their time at the school. One woman recounted instances of Epstein repeatedly touching her inappropriately under the guise of accidental contact in a camp building that once bore his name. She further alleged that Epstein later funded trips to New York, where the unwanted advances persisted.

Another accuser detailed an incident where Epstein allegedly requested she expose her breasts while giving him a massage at his private residence. Following this event, she severed all contact with Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Epstein's Past Ties and School's Response

Interlochen had previously removed Epstein's name from the building in 2009, after becoming aware of his 2008 sex crime conviction in Florida. The structure was later renamed Green Lake Lodge and has since been demolished.

The report also indicated that at least two other Interlochen alumni are mentioned in federal investigative records connected to Epstein and Maxwell. One of these individuals reportedly testified for the prosecution during Maxwell's 2021 sex trafficking trial. Previous media reports have also surfaced concerning allegations of grooming and abuse against Epstein and Maxwell made by at least two other Interlochen alumnae, though it remains unclear if they were part of this recent investigation.

Interlochen Center for the Arts has stated that it has forwarded the names of all individuals identified in the investigation to the prosecutors in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, for potential criminal review. The institution confirmed that none of the accused individuals currently remain employed by the school, and over a third of those implicated have passed away.