Key Points
- Virginia Giuffre has died by suicide at the age of 41.
- Giuffre's family said she had taken her life at her property in Western Australia on Friday.
- She was one of the earliest and most prominent voices to accuse Jeffrey Epstein and others, of abuse.
Virginia Giuffre, a campaigner for victims of sexual abuse and sexual trafficking who was one of the most prominent accusers of disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein and Britain's Prince Andrew, has taken her own life at her home in Western Australia.
"It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia," a statement by Giuffre's family released on Saturday said.
"She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking."
Giuffre left three children, Christian, Noah, and Emily, who were "the light of her life", the family said. She was 41 years old.
"Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors.
"In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight."
Virginia Giuffre was a "fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking", her family said in a statement. Credit: PA/Alamy
WA Police say death not being treated as suspicious
Western Australia police said emergency services provided first aid after being alerted Friday night that a 41-year-old woman had been found unresponsive at a home in Neergabby.
"Sadly, the 41-year-old woman was declared deceased at the scene," they said in a statement.
Police said the death is being investigated, but "early indication is the death is not suspicious".
Her death was also confirmed by her solicitor, Karrie Louden.
In March, Giuffre was taken to the hospital after a car crash with a school bus in Perth.
She posted a picture of her bruised face on social media, saying she only had four days to live.
Her agent later stated that Giuffre intended to publish the post on a private Facebook page.
'A beacon to other survivors'
Giuffre is one of several women who claim to have been abused and sexually trafficked by financier Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in prison while awaiting trial for sex crimes in 2019.
Giuffree stated that Epstein's long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell offered her a travelling masseuse job for Epstein during their meeting at Donald Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club.
At the time, she was working as a spa attendant at the club in Florida.
However, she alleges things didn't progress as expected and Epstein directed her to engage in sexual activities with several powerful men, including Prince Andrew.
In an interview with the BBC, she said she was "passed around like a platter of fruit" among Epstein's associates.
The American-Australian claimed she had sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17 and a minor under US law, and they met through Epstein.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations and avoided trial by paying a multimillion-dollar settlement in 2022.
As a part of the settlement, Prince Andrew agreed to make a donation to a charity established by Giuffre that supports sex trafficking victims.
In 2015, Giuffre sued Maxwell for defamation. The case was settled in 2017, with Maxwell reportedly paying Giuffre a substantial amount.
Giuffre established the Victims Refuse Silence nonprofit organisation in the United States in 2015.
The organisation was relaunched in 2021 under the name Speak Out, Act, Reclaim.
Her lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, described Giuffre as a champion for other victims.
"Her courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring."
"Deeply loving, wise, and funny, she was a beacon to other survivors and victims," she said.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
Readers seeking crisis support can ring Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at beyondblue.org.au and on 1300 22 4636.
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