Virginia Giuffre, 41, a prominent survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse, died by suicide in Neergabby, Australia, her family said Friday.
Giuffre had lived in Australia for several years, People Magazine reports.
She was among the first individuals to publicly accuse Epstein and call for legal action against him and his partners. Her courage inspired other survivors to speak up as well.
Giuffre provided crucial information to authorities that supported the investigation and conviction of Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, along with other investigations overseen by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
In 2022, Prince Andrew reached an agreement with Giuffre, who alleged that he sexually assaulted her at the age of 17. The settlement involved an unsigned letter in which Andrew acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering from the traumatic experience of being sexually exploited by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew’s settlement with Giuffre was reached a month after the terms of a 2009 settlement between Epstein and Giuffre was publicized. Epstein paid Giuffree $500,000 in that case.
Prince Andrew contended that the 2009 settlement legally shielded him from civil lawsuits like the one Giuffre has filed against him. While he was not mentioned by name in that settlement, he presumably argued that he was referenced in it as a “potential defendant.”
Her family released the following statement after her death.
“Giuffre lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors. Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure. The light of her life were her children Christian, Noah, and Emily.”
“It was when she held her newborn daughter in her arms that Virginia realized she had to fight back against those who had abused her and so many other. There are no words that can express the grave loss we feel today with the passing of our sweet Virginia. She was heroic and will always be remembered for her incredible courage and loving spirit. In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight. We know that she is with the angels.”
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: FILE – In this Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019 file photo, Virginia Giuffre, who says she was trafficked by sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, holds a news conference outside a Manhattan court in New York. On Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, Giuffre sued Prince Andrew saying he sexually assaulted her when she was 17. Lawyers for Giuffre filed the lawsuit in Manhattan federal court. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)]
