Dr. Jack Horner, the celebrated paleontologist who served as technical advisor for the Jurassic Park film franchise and inspired the character Alan Grant, has parted ways with Chapman University following the release of emails documenting his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The disclosure, originating from the latest batch of Epstein-related documents released by the US Justice Department, reveals correspondence from 2012 showing Horner’s visit to Epstein’s New Mexico ranch and his subsequent pursuit of research funding from the financier. At the time of these exchanges, Horner held a lecturer position at Montana State University.
In a detailed public statement, Horner expressed regret for not conducting deeper background checks on Epstein, acknowledging this as ‘a lesson learned.’ He maintained that during his brief interactions, he observed nothing ‘weird or suspicious’ that would have indicated the criminal conduct that later emerged. Horner specifically apologized for referring to four women present at the ranch as ‘girls’ in his email, clarifying they had been introduced to him as college students.
The correspondence includes Horner’s funding request for a research project, initially estimated at $15,000 before being revised to $8,650. Epstein responded with willingness to provide a check, though the ultimate disposition of the proposed donation remains unclear. Horner confirmed receiving a separate $10,000 contribution from Epstein for his research.
Chapman University officials confirmed Horner’s departure without specifying whether he resigned or was terminated. The university spokesperson simply stated Horner ‘is no longer with the university,’ marking a professional setback for the scientist whose work profoundly influenced both academic paleontology and popular culture through the Jurassic Park phenomenon.
Horner emphasized that his limited interactions with Epstein were based on his perception of the financier as a science-interested philanthropist who had supported major academic institutions, noting awareness only of Epstein’s previous prostitution-related charge rather than the more serious allegations that later emerged.