Sydney, Australia — Virginia Giuffre, the woman who bravely accused Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, has died by suicide at the age of 41, her family confirmed on Saturday.
In a heartfelt statement provided by her agent, Giuffre’s family said she passed away at her farm in Neergabby, Western Australia. "It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night," the family wrote. "She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking."
Giuffre, a dual citizen of the United States and Australia, was one of the most prominent survivors to speak out against Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial in a New York jail on federal sex trafficking charges. Giuffre had publicly accused Epstein of using her as a sex slave and alleged that she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17 — underage by U.S. law.
Prince Andrew has consistently denied the allegations but avoided a public trial by settling the lawsuit out of court in 2022, reportedly paying millions, including a donation to a charity supporting sex trafficking victims.
Giuffre’s family remembered her as “an incredible spirit” who used her painful past to become a voice for countless survivors around the world. "The toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight," they said. "We know she is now with the angels."
Western Australia Police confirmed they responded to a call Friday evening reporting an unresponsive woman at a residence in Neergabby. Emergency services attempted first aid, but the woman was declared dead at the scene. Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious.
In recent months, Giuffre had faced personal struggles, including a car accident in March involving a school bus, and reported family issues, including a restraining order dispute with her estranged husband, Robert. Despite these challenges, her family said her greatest joy remained her three children — Christian, Noah, and Emily — who “were the light of her life.”
Giuffre’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, paid tribute to her client and friend, calling her “a dear friend and an unstoppable force for justice.” Her agent, Dini von Mueffling, remembered her as “a beacon to other survivors,” describing her as deeply loving, wise, and resilient.
Giuffre’s death marks a heartbreaking chapter in the ongoing reckoning over Epstein’s abuse network — but her legacy as an advocate for survivors is expected to endure.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)