[GRADE A2 -- NPR News, published February 19, 2026]
NPR's investigation, also carried by Interlochen Public Radio, includes interviews with former Interlochen administrators:
The investigation reports a second victim (unnamed) who met Epstein and Maxwell at Interlochen at age 14 in the late 1990s. Epstein paid her tuition for year-round boarding school and offered conservatory funding. Contact was cut off when she refused to accompany "a high-profile person to a gathering in New York."
Both victims describe the same MO: Epstein and Maxwell walking a small dog to break the ice with children on campus.
The investigation reports that a mother called Interlochen about Epstein and a receptionist responded: "He is our guardian. He is trustworthy around the kids and there is no need to worry."
WHAT THIS SHOWS AND DOES NOT SHOW: The NPR investigation provides corroboration from a second victim and on-record statements from administrators. The record destruction policy (10-year retention) explains why records were unavailable during later investigations. Administrator claims of "naivete" are their characterization. The receptionist's vouching for Epstein as "trustworthy around the kids" documents institutional endorsement but does NOT establish that the receptionist or institution knew about criminal conduct.