One of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein‘s most prominent accusers has died by suicide, her family told NBC News on Friday.
Virginia Giuffre, 41, died in Neergabby, Australia, where she had lived for several years.
Giuffre “lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” her family said in a statement. “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.”
The Context
Giuffre had been outspoken about being a victim of sexual abuse, alleging in lawsuits that she was recruited and groomed by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein, to have sex with his wealthy and powerful friends.
In her most prominent suit, Giuffre alleged that she was forced to have sex with the U.K.’s Prince Andrew in London, New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2001. The prince has repeatedly and vehemently denied the allegations. In 2022, he settled the lawsuit out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Epstein, a financier, died by suicide in August 2019 in a New York City jail while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges, while Maxwell was convicted of child sex trafficking in connection with Epstein, but not Prince Andrew, and is serving a 20-year sentence.
What To Know
After filing the lawsuit against the royal in 2021, Giuffre said, “I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me. The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions. I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but to reclaim one’s life by speaking out and demanding justice.”
She alleged in the lawsuit that she had been 17 when she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew after a night out at Tramp nightclub in 2001, according to court documents.
“On one occasion, Prince Andrew sexually abused [Giuffre] in London at Maxwell’s home. During this encounter, Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew forced [Giuffre], a child, to have sexual intercourse with Prince Andrew against her will,” read a claim form filed in support of her case, seen by Newsweek. “On another occasion, Prince Andrew sexually abused [Giuffre] in Epstein’s New York mansion in this District,” it continued.
Giuffre, who had three children, last month was involved in a car crash, which she said had left her fighting for her life. She wrote on social media at the time that she had been given four days to live after her car collided with a school bus, adding she was desperate to see her children one last time.
Western Australia Police Force referred to the accident as a “minor crash,” which was reported in the media.
Giuffre was raised in Florida but had a difficult childhood. She said she was abused by a family friend and was living on the streets as a teen. She was in the process of getting back on her feet when she met Maxwell.
She relocated to Australia with her husband before Epstein’s 2019 arrest.
What People Are Saying
Giuffre’s family said in a statement on Friday, “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.”
Her attorney, Sigrid McCawley, told People in a statement, “Virginia was much more than a client to me; she was a dear friend and an incredible champion for other victims. Her courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring. The world has lost an amazing human being today. Rest in peace, my sweet angel.”
Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday: “Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre has died by ‘suicide.’ The truth needs to come out more [sic] matter who is responsible.”
What Happens Next
Funeral services for Giuffre have not yet been announced.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “988” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
Update 4/25/25 11:18 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.
The post Jeffrey Epstein Accuser Virginia Giuffre Dies By Suicide appeared first on Newsweek.
