Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse and a central figure in the legal battles surrounding the disgraced financier's network, has died by suicide at her farm in Neergabby, Australia, her family confirmed Friday. She was 41 years old.
"It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia," the family said in a statement to NBC News. "She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking." Western Australia police said emergency services responded to a report of an unresponsive 41-year-old woman at the home Friday evening. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and authorities said the death is not considered suspicious but will be investigated.
Raised primarily in Florida, Giuffre endured a turbulent childhood, marked by abuse from a family friend and periods of homelessness. At 16, she encountered Ghislaine Maxwell while working at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. Maxwell later groomed her for Epstein's exploitation, and Giuffre said she was trafficked to powerful men between 1999 and 2002, including Britain's Prince Andrew and French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.
Giuffre's accusations against Prince Andrew gained international attention. She filed a lawsuit against the royal in 2021, alleging he sexually abused her on three occasions when she was 17 years old. Andrew denied the allegations but settled the lawsuit out of court in 2022 for an undisclosed sum. Giuffre's testimony and advocacy were pivotal in criminal investigations that culminated in Maxwell's 2021 conviction on federal sex trafficking charges.
Her family described her as a "fierce warrior" against sexual abuse and trafficking, noting, "Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure." Giuffre is survived by her husband and three children, who her family said were "the light of her life."
Sigrid McCawley, Giuffre's longtime attorney, said, "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." Dini von Mueffling, Giuffre's representative, called her "one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honor to know."
Giuffre's activism continued even after she relocated to Australia. She provided crucial information that helped U.S. authorities prosecute Maxwell and other associates of Epstein. In 2021, she testified against Brunel in Paris, telling reporters, "I wanted Brunel to know that he no longer has the power over me."
The renewed attention to the Epstein case earlier this year, including the release of previously publicized documents by Attorney General Pam Bondi, reportedly caused anxiety among Epstein's survivors, according to multiple victims.
Her brother, Danny Wilson, said Giuffre was motivated by a deep sense of duty: "Her biggest push was, 'If I don't do this, nobody's going to do it.'" Wilson added that Giuffre had struggled with both physical illness and emotional scars from her past.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. Brunel similarly died by suicide in French custody in 2022. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence in the United States.
Josh Schiffer, an attorney representing another Epstein victim, said Giuffre's death should serve as a stark reminder of the enduring trauma faced by survivors. "Her loss will hopefully be a marker and almost an inspiration for people calling attention to the epidemic that is sex trafficking," Schiffer said.
