Journalist Probing Epstein's Zorro Ranch Claims 'Direct Energy Weapon' Attack, Says She's Fleeing US
Journalist Probing Epstein's Zorro Ranch Claims 'Direct Energy Weapon' Attack, Says She's Fleeing US Published By, Last Updated: June 04, 2026, 07:59 IST A journalist
Journalist Probing Epstein's Zorro Ranch Claims 'Direct Energy Weapon' Attack, Says She's Fleeing US Published By, Last Updated: June 04, 2026, 07:59 IST A journalist investigating Jeffrey Epstein's New Mexico ranch says she is relocating abroad after alleging she was targeted by a mysterious energy-based attack. File photos of Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez/Epstein (Source: Social Media/AFP) A journalist who has spent years investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s New Mexico ranch says she is preparing to leave the United States after claiming she was targeted by what she described as a “direct energy weapon" attack linked to her reporting. Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, a former Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times reporter who later became a bestselling novelist, announced on social media that she had abandoned her New Mexico home after experiencing symptoms she believes are consistent with “Havana syndrome." “Okay, folks. It appears my home has been located by, well, whomever is unhappy about my reporting about Zorro Ranch and the local cover up here and the military intelligence roots of the child sex trafficking operation Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were running here in New Mexico," (sic), she wrote. Valdes-Rodriguez claimed she suffered two incidents while working in her home office. “This morning, I was hit in my home office by two episodes of what I later learned were likely Direct Energy Weapon attacks," she wrote, adding that her symptoms were “consistent" with Havana syndrome. The journalist said she and her family immediately decided to leave the property.
“We wasted no time in leaving the house, for good," she wrote, adding that they would remain in “safe houses" while making arrangements to permanently relocate abroad. She also said she plans to launch a fundraising campaign to help cover the cost of transporting her pets and hiring security personnel until she leaves the country. “Yes, it has come to this. We kind of figured it might," she wrote. According to the New York Post, Valdes-Rodriguez later expanded on her allegations in additional online posts, claiming the attacks may have involved a “backpack-sized" directed-energy device allegedly operated by private military contractors. She further alleged that one of the incidents appeared to originate from a large semi-truck parked near her residence. “The second round of attacks seemed to have come from the back of a large semi truck that parked across from my house," she wrote. Valdes-Rodriguez also claimed such devices had become increasingly compact and sophisticated. “These devices have gotten smaller now … some are the size of large machine guns," she wrote. She additionally alleged that operators could generate “a 3d model of the inside of your house in real time, and zero in on a body part." NO EVIDENCE PRESENTED The New York Post noted that there is no publicly available evidence supporting Valdes-Rodriguez’s claims. The allegations are tied to the journalist’s reporting on Zorro Ranch, Epstein’s sprawling property in New Mexico that has long been the subject of scrutiny because of its association with the late financier and convicted sex offender.
Valdes-Rodriguez had previously alleged that her reporting uncovered information about local cover-ups, intelligence connections and other activities linked to the ranch. Those claims have not been publicly substantiated. WHAT IS HAVANA SYNDROME? The symptoms described by Valdes-Rodriguez resemble those associated with what became known as Havana syndrome, a term first used after US diplomats and intelligence personnel stationed in Cuba reported a range of unexplained health problems beginning in 2016. Reported symptoms included headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, nausea, balance issues and cognitive difficulties. US intelligence agencies spent years investigating whether a foreign adversary had used microwave or directed-energy weapons against American personnel. However, the New York Post reported that declassified intelligence assessments released in 2023 and updated in 2024 concluded it was “very unlikely" that a foreign actor was responsible for the incidents. Investigators also found no consistent evidence that a novel weapon had been used against affected personnel. Some researchers have proposed alternative explanations, including environmental factors, stress-related conditions and mass psychogenic illness. THE EPSTEIN FILES AND ZORRO RANCH Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal se trafficking charges, maintained several high-profile properties, including Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. The term “Epstein files" broadly refers to court documents, flight logs, witness testimony, investigative records and other materials that have emerged through lawsuits and criminal investigations involving Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Over the years, thousands of pages of records have been released publicly, shedding light on Epstein’s social network and activities. However, many allegations and theories surrounding Epstein’s operations remain unproven or disputed. Zorro Ranch has drawn particular attention because of claims made by accusers and investigators regarding activities that allegedly took place on the property. While the ranch has been repeatedly linked to investigations into Epstein’s conduct, many claims concerning intelligence connections, hidden operations or organised cover-ups have not been verified through public evidence. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: June 04, 2026, 07:58 IST News world Journalist Probing Epstein's Zorro Ranch Claims 'Direct Energy Weapon' Attack, Says She's Fleeing US Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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