Jeffrey Epstein trafficking survivor dies by suicide at 41

Virginia Giuffre, a prominent figure in the fight against sexual abuse and trafficking, has tragically died by suicide at the age of 41, her family confirmed.

Giuffre had long been a vocal accuser of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, alleging that they trafficked her to Prince Andrew when she was just 17. The Duke of York has consistently denied all accusations.

In a statement released on Friday, her relatives remembered Giuffre as a "fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse," but revealed that the toll of her past trauma had become unbearable. They added, "She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking."

Giuffre, who had three children, was described by her family as the "light that lifted so many survivors." She passed away on Friday at her farm in Western Australia, where she had been living. Police in Western Australia responded to a call in Neergabby late Friday night, where Giuffre was found unresponsive. The death is under investigation by Major Crime detectives, with initial reports indicating that it is not considered suspicious.

Born in the US, Giuffre had been living with her husband Robert and their children in North Perth. However, reports in recent months suggested that the couple had separated after 22 years of marriage. Just three weeks before her death, Giuffre shared on Instagram that she had been involved in a car accident, although her family later stated that she had not intended to disclose the information publicly. Local authorities, however, downplayed the severity of the crash.

Giuffre’s long-time spokesperson, Dini von Mueffling, paid tribute to her, calling her "one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honor to know." Von Mueffling described Giuffre as a "beacon to other survivors and victims" and expressed the privilege of representing her.

Giuffre’s allegations against Epstein and Maxwell brought her international attention. She accused the pair of trafficking her to Prince Andrew when she was a teenager. While the prince has denied all allegations, he reached a legal settlement with Giuffre in 2022, which included a statement of regret for his association with Epstein but did not include an admission of liability or an apology.

Giuffre first encountered Maxwell, a British socialite, in 2000. From there, she said she was introduced to Epstein, and she later detailed years of abuse at the hands of Epstein and his associates. Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

In 2008, he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor. Maxwell, for her part, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the US for her role in Epstein's trafficking operations.