This archive report was first published on 30 August 2019.
Little Saint James, a private island in the Caribbean, has gained notoriety as the alleged site of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking crimes. The island, once a secluded retreat for the convicted sex offender, has become a morbid tourist attraction since his arrest in July 2019 and subsequent death on August 10, 2019.
According to court filings, Epstein was accused of trafficking underage girls to the island for sex. The island was considered his primary residence until his arrest. Since then, it has become a magnet for curious tourists, with many seeking to catch a glimpse of the island's infamous past.
"I'll admit it's effed up, but I want to see where Satan lived," one St. Thomas visitor told Fox News. The island's dark history has drawn a large number of catamarans sailing by Epstein's island, with many tourists eager to get a closer look.
John Stewart, the owner of a boat-tour agency on St. Thomas, has seen a significant increase in the number of tourists visiting the island. "No one used to pay attention to it," Stewart told the Los Angeles Times. Now, in light of Epstein's media attention, there are a lot more tourists.
Despite its dark history, the island still boasts a range of unusual features, including a temple-like structure and life-size plastic cows. The island's transformation from a secluded retreat to a tourist attraction is a stark reminder of the public's fascination with Epstein's crimes.
