Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘First Known Victim’ Was Just 13 — and He Allegedly Met Her at His Childhood Summer Camp: Complaint

A woman identified as Jeffrey Epstein’s “first known victim” says she was only 13 years old when she met him — at the same Michigan summer camp he once attended, according to allegations in a civil lawsuit filed in 2020.

The complaint, filed under the pseudonym “Jane Doe” against Epstein’s estate and Ghislaine Maxwell, claims the abuse began after an encounter at Interlochen Arts Camp in 1994. Doe, then a vocal student who split her time between New York and Florida, alleges that Epstein and Maxwell approached her while she was sitting alone between classes.

According to the filing, Epstein presented himself as a generous arts patron who funded scholarships for talented students and began asking her personal questions about her life and family. Before she left, he allegedly asked for her mother’s phone number in Florida. Epstein himself had attended the prestigious arts camp in 1967 and later became a major donor, local outlet UpNorthLive previously reported.

Weeks later, after Doe returned to Florida, Epstein allegedly contacted her mother and arranged for a driver to bring the pair to his mansion, telling them he “mentors young kids.” The lawsuit claims that, over the following months, Epstein and Maxwell groomed the girl — support that included financial assistance to her family — before the behavior escalated into sexual abuse.

Doe also alleges that when she was 14, Epstein took her to Mar-a-Lago and introduced her to then–hotel owner Donald Trump. The suit claims Epstein jokingly nudged Trump and said of the girl, “This is a good one, right?” Trump allegedly smiled and nodded. Trump is not accused of wrongdoing in the complaint.

The allegations surfaced publicly as part of newly released Department of Justice materials tied to the federal investigation into Epstein. The documents — which include emails, photos and other records — were disclosed under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress in November. President Trump ultimately signed the legislation after initially opposing it.

Many of the documents have been heavily redacted to protect victims’ identities, classified information and ongoing investigations, prompting both interest and controversy. Among the materials were photos of Epstein with unidentified children, as well as images featuring high-profile figures including Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Michael Jackson and Kevin Spacey. The DOJ said some of the released files contain “untrue and sensationalist claims” about Trump.

Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell, his longtime associate, was later convicted of sex trafficking and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.