Virginia Giuffre, who was among the people who accused Jeffrey Epstein of abuse, has passed away, according to a family statement released on April 25.
Her death happened in Neergabby, Australia, close to where she lived. The family revealed that she died by suicide.
In the statement they shared, her relatives described her as someone who fought bravely against sexual abuse and human trafficking.
They said she gave many survivors hope and strength and that, despite all she had been through, her spirit never lost its shine. They expressed deep sorrow and said she would be deeply missed.
Her Role in the Epstein Case
Virginia, who was originally known as Virginia Roberts, stood out as one of the most outspoken voices against Epstein. She played a major part in pushing forward investigations that led to charges against Epstein and his close associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Back in 2015, she publicly stated that Epstein paid her for sex when she was just 17. She also claimed that Prince Andrew and several other associates of Epstein were involved. She said it was Maxwell who brought her into Epstein’s inner circle.
Later in 2021, she went further to take legal action against Prince Andrew, saying Epstein trafficked her to him three times around 2001, while she was still a teenager.
Though Andrew strongly denied her claims, he agreed to settle the lawsuit in 2022. Giuffre also sued Maxwell for defamation in 2015, and that case was settled two years afterward.
Epstein faced charges for sex trafficking in 2019, but he took his own life while in federal custody before facing trial. Maxwell, however, was found guilty and received a 20-year prison sentence in 2022.
Personal Strength and Final Struggles
In an interview with The Miami Herald, Giuffre once said that becoming a mother gave her the strength to speak up. Her family said that when she looked at her baby daughter for the first time, she decided to take a stand against those who had caused her pain and had harmed so many others.
Earlier this year, in March, Giuffre shared on Instagram that she had nearly lost her life after a school bus crashed into her car while driving at a speed of about 68 mph. She mentioned that the crash caused her kidneys to fail.
The family described her passing as a deep loss they could not put into words. They said Virginia was brave and full of love and would always be remembered for how strong and kind she was.
They added that the burden of her past became too heavy for her to carry and that now, they believe she is at peace with the angels. Giuffre was living in Australia and raising her three children at the time of her death.
