Paleontologist who worked on five ‘Jurassic Park’ movies quietly leaves Chapman University after visits to Epstein’s ranch

A Chapman University paleontologist who served as an advisor on the first five “Jurassic Park” movies has been let go by the college after emails showed his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

In the most recent DOJ dump of files, a series of messages between John “Jack” Horner and the pedophile showed him seeking funding and referenced visits to the billionaire’s ranch.

“First off, many thanks for the invitation to your ranch. I had a great time, especially spending time with you and the girls, and seeing your Cretaceous sediments and the old railroad,” Horner wrote in a Sept. 1, 2012 email to Lesley Groff, Epstein’s assistant.

The email was sent after Horner attended an event at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico in 2012 while he was still a professor at Montana State University. He reportedly visited again in 2016, according to The Orange County Register.

In the same 2012 exchange, Horner asked about funding for his “DinoChicken” project, estimating the cost at approximately $15,000, later revising the amount to $8,650. Epstein responded the same day, writing, “great, check made to ???”

In another message, Epstein wrote to Horner: “dinosaur and fossil hunting with jack horner on the ranch, found 90 million year old clams and fossils. right up your alley.”

Horner has not responded to the Post’s request for comment but has previously denied knowing about Epstein’s broader criminal conduct.

“My decision to pursue him as a donor was extremely poor judgment,” Horner told a Montana television station, adding that there was “nothing weird or suspicious” during the trip.

Despite emails, he has maintained that there was “nothing weird, inappropriate, or out of the ordinary.”

“I want to make it perfectly clear that I knew nothing more than that. No amount of money in the world would have lured me to meet with a known sexual predator,” Horner told the local TV station in Montana.

“I understand now that there was much more to his conviction, but that many of his other charges had been sealed.

“Those present besides the ranch manager and his wife included Epstein, a chef, Epstein’s secretary, and four women who were introduced to me as college students, two of whom claimed to be adept in genetics.”

Chapman University confirmed Horner is “no longer with” the institution. A spokesperson declined to provide details regarding the reasons for his dismissal.

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