Virginia Giuffre, a woman who accused the late Jeffery Epstein and Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, died by suicide on Thursday, her family said. She was 41.
“Giuffre lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” her family wrote in a statement given to People Friday.
“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 others,” the statement continued.
“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.”
“Virginia was much more than a client to me; she was a dear friend and an incredible champion for other victims,” attorney Sigrid McCawley said.
“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.”
News of Giuffre’s death comes only several weeks after she claimed she was hit by a school bus and only had “days to live.”
In late March, Giuffre shared a gruesome hospital selfie via Instagram, telling her followers about the “worst start to a new year.”
The next day, however, a spokesperson for the Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) cast doubt on Giuffre’s alleged claims, saying they received a report of a “minor crash” between a bus and car in Neergabby, Australia, on March 24.
Police further claimed there “were no reported injuries as a result of the crash.”
Still, Giuffre doubled down on her claims and hit back at doubters, with her family members telling the Mirror that the Victims Refuse Silence creator was “in serious condition while receiving medical care.”
Six days later, Giuffre was released from the hospital.
Years prior, in 2021, Giuffre sued Prince Andrew, 65, for sexual assault, claiming he allegedly raped her when she was a teenager as part of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.
She and the Duke of York settled the case out of court for an estimated $12 million in 2022. Andrew denied any wrongdoing, but the royal’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, stripped him of his military titles as a result of the scandal.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
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