Palaeontologist and Jurassic Park Adviser Jack Horner Steps Down After Emails Show Visit to Epstein Ranch

Jack Horner, the renowned palaeontologist who inspired the character of Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, has left his role at Chapman University. This follows revelations that he visited convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's ranch in New Mexico in 2012 while seeking funding for his research.

The emails, recently released by the US Justice Department, have raised questions about Horner's connection to Epstein, though no illegal activity has been suggested. Horner expressed regret over his lack of due diligence at the time, noting that he did not see anything 'weird or suspicious' during his visits.

The exchanges show that Horner initially requested financial support for a project, estimating costs at approximately £12,500 ($15,000), and later revised the amount to £7,200 ($8,650). Epstein eventually made a donation of £8,300 ($10,000).

Horner also referenced accompanying young women, whom he said were 'introduced to me as college students,' and later regretted using the term 'girls' in his emails.

Emails Reveal Funding Requests and Ranch Visits

The 2012 emails reveal Horner visited Epstein's ranch with the intention of exploring potential funding for academic research while he was a lecturer at Montana State University.

In one message, he thanked a colleague for helping arrange the visit, commenting that 'Jeffrey and the girls were very gracious hosts.'

He later clarified that he was referring to four women introduced as students and expressed regret for the wording.

Horner stated that his interest in Epstein's support stemmed solely from the financier's reputation as a wealthy individual with an interest in science. 'I was aware that he had previously been charged with soliciting a prostitute and had served a sentence, but I was not aware of any additional allegations or misconduct,' Horner explained in a statement.

He also highlighted that his visit in 2016 with a graduate student did not involve Epstein directly; only the ranch manager and his wife were present.

Horner Steps Down After University Review

According to the BBC, Chapman University confirmed Horner is no longer with the institution, though it remains unclear whether he resigned or was dismissed.

The announcement followed weeks of media attention after the emails were made public, prompting questions about academic oversight and the responsibility of researchers when accepting donations from controversial figures.

In his statement, Horner described the situation as a lesson learned regarding vetting donors. He emphasised that nothing during his interactions at the ranch suggested the criminal behaviour that later came to light.

'In retrospect, I regret that I did not investigate Epstein's background beyond what was commonly known at the time, something that I had never done with other potential donors,' he said.

Palaeontology Community in Shock

Despite the controversy, Horner's scientific achievements remain influential.

He is widely recognised for his pioneering research on dinosaur behaviour and development and served as a technical consultant on the Jurassic Park films, which brought scientifically informed depictions of dinosaurs to the big screen.

The character Alan Grant, portrayed by Sam Neill in the franchise, was inspired by Horner's work in Montana.

However, the community can't help but feel a sense of shock and disbelief. In a r/Paleontology subreddit, comments expressed disgust at Horner's casual references to 'the girls' and questioned the ethics of his interactions with Epstein.

But some noted that even though his actions are not proven criminal, they reflect poor judgment and exploitative behavior.

One comment summed up the sentiment: 'Literally every time he says "the girls" makes me want to throw up.'