An investigation into misconduct at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan has brought to light allegations against Jeffrey Epstein, a former donor, along with accusations against nearly 50 others. The Interlochen Center, known for its summer camp and arts school, began examining claims of sexual abuse by its staff.
The investigation expanded to include Epstein, who at 66 committed suicide in jail in 2019. His links to the school prompted the removal of his name from a lodge after his 2008 conviction for sexual offenses in Florida. Recently demolished, the building’s connection to Epstein came under scrutiny following the release of extensive documentation by the Department of Justice.
The law firm, Sanghavi Law Office, collected 70 accounts from former students alleging physical sexual misconduct by 47 faculty and staff associated with Interlochen from the 1950s to the 2010s. Most incidents reportedly occurred before the year 2000. The 97-page report described the findings as devastating, revealing instances of grooming, flirtation, inappropriate touching, and sexual relations.
Interlochen has provided the names of the accused to authorities in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. None of the accused currently work at the institution, and over a third are deceased. Trey Davey, the president of Interlochen, and Barrett Rollins, the board chair, issued a public apology acknowledging the harm suffered by community members.
Though many incidents happened decades ago, the impact on alumni remains significant. Interlochen emphasized that it now operates with comprehensive safety policies and a transformed culture.
Epstein, a former participant in the program in 1967, donated over $400,000 to the school between 1990 and 2003. The investigation revealed that two women reported his inappropriate conduct, with an incident occurring at the lodge named after him. One of the women experienced what she described as accidental contact over her clothing. He also invited her to New York while she was a student, where he further overstepped boundaries.
The report also touches on another accusation involving Epstein receiving a massage from a second woman, potentially asking her to remove her top. She severed ties with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell afterward.
Besides the internal investigation, two other Interlochen alumni brought accusations against Epstein and Maxwell in federal records and news reports. Though their identities remain confidential, one testified against Maxwell in 2021, leading to Maxwell’s conviction for sex trafficking.