A man who illegally entered Little Saint James, an island formerly owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, claims he was hogtied, blindfolded, and detained in a cement room he described as a "dungeon" by security personnel. Benjamin Owen, a 44-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee, stated the incident occurred on April 25 when he, along with two companions, trespassed onto the private property. Owen's account has drawn significant attention, adding another layer to the island's controversial history.
"The roof is dirt on top of it. It’s like this 10-by-20 cement room. There’s nothing in there." — Benjamin Owen, YouTuber
Owen explained that his intention in visiting the island was to "raise awareness" about human trafficking and to investigate various conspiracy theories associated with Epstein. He, along with Ryan Dalton and a third unidentified individual, allegedly entered the island and approached a structure commonly referred to online as "the temple." It was at this point, according to Owen, that island security personnel spotted the group. While Dalton and the third individual reportedly managed to escape by fleeing down cliffs and swimming back to their boat, Owen stated he was unable to keep pace due to breathing difficulties and chose to surrender.
Owen claims that upon his surrender, multiple security personnel rushed towards him, screaming and restraining him without warning. He alleges his hands were tied behind his back before he was transported to a dock, where he was further secured with zip ties and eventually taken to a cement room built into a hillside. Describing the room to CBS News, Owen stated, "The roof is dirt on top of it. It’s like this 10-by-20 cement room. There’s nothing in there." He further alleged that guards used rope, zip ties, and duct tape to restrain his wrists, knees, and ankles, leaving him trapped in extreme heat. "I’m tied with rope, I’m tied with zip ties, I’m tied with duct tape," Owen recounted, adding, "I’m like, ‘I’m not going anywhere.’" He also claimed that a woman later entered the room, ordered guards to push him into a corner, and had him blindfolded before leaving him confined once more.
Hours after his alleged detention, Virgin Islands police reportedly arrived at the island. Owen was subsequently arrested for trespassing and later released on a $500 bond.
Little Saint James, and the neighboring Great Saint James, were purchased in 2023 for approximately $60 million by billionaire Stephen Deckoff. Deckoff's representatives have announced plans to transform the property into a "state-of-the-art, five-star, world-class luxury resort." Following the incident, representatives for Deckoff have reiterated warnings that trespassers venturing beyond the island's beaches or tampering with structures will face aggressive legal action.
The holding company that owns the island has filed a lawsuit against Owen and his associates. The lawsuit characterizes them as "internet-fame seekers" and conspiracy theorists who are attempting to profit from Epstein's notoriety through online content and publicity stunts. It further alleges that the group acted with "wanton and reckless indifference" by trespassing on private property. Owen has publicly promoted theories suggesting Epstein may still be alive, though he conceded that his recent trip to the island yielded no evidence to support that claim.
This incident is not an isolated event concerning alleged trespassers on the island. Earlier this year, another alleged trespassing encounter reportedly led to criminal charges against property supervisor Ann Rodriguez. Rodriguez faces charges including false imprisonment, kidnapping, and assault, stemming from claims by another alleged trespasser who reported being hogtied and stripped naked after a confrontation on the island in March. These ongoing legal issues underscore the complexities of managing and securing a property with such a high profile and contentious past.
