Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent victims of disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein who later accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault, has died at the age of 41.
Her family confirmed in a statement on Saturday that Giuffre took her own life at her farm in Western Australia, where she had lived for several years.
“It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia. She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” the family said.
The statement added: “In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.”
Giuffre became a vocal advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, alleging that she was groomed and sexually exploited by Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell from her teenage years.
Her family described her as a “fierce warrior” against sexual exploitation and “a light that lifted so many survivors”, adding that she “shone so bright” despite her hardships.
Giuffre is survived by her three children, Christian, Noah, and Emily, who her family said were the “light of her life”.
Her lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, called Giuffre “a dear friend” and an “incredible champion for other victims”, noting that her strength had inspired many to come forward.
Dini von Mueffling, Giuffre’s representative, described her as “deeply loving, wise, and funny”, and said she was a beacon of hope for other survivors.
Josh Schiffer, a lawyer for one of Epstein’s victims, said Giuffre’s bravery had been integral to exposing Epstein’s crimes, inspiring others to speak out against sexual abuse and trafficking.
Western Australia Police did not officially confirm her death but said emergency services responded to reports of an unresponsive 41-year-old woman at a home in Neergabby, about 75km north of Perth, at approximately 9:50pm on Friday. Despite emergency first aid, she was pronounced dead. Authorities stated the death is not being treated as suspicious, although an investigation will be conducted.
Earlier this month, Giuffre had posted on social media that she had only days to live following a traffic collision involving a school bus. Police confirmed she was involved in an accident on 24 March but said no injuries had been reported.
Giuffre, an American citizen, said she met Maxwell in 2000 while working at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. She alleged that Maxwell recruited her to work for Epstein as a massage therapist, during which time she was sexually exploited by Epstein’s associates, including prominent figures.
In 2009, she filed a civil lawsuit against Epstein, under the pseudonym “Jane Doe 102”, which was settled out of court.
In 2021, Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew in New York, alleging he sexually assaulted her when she was 17. Prince Andrew has consistently denied the allegations. The case was settled in 2022 with an undisclosed payment.
Maxwell was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking. Epstein was arrested in 2019 but died by suicide while awaiting trial.
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