Virginia Giuffre, a central figure in legal actions against Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, has died by suicide, her family announced Friday. Giuffre, 41, died at her home in Neergabby, Australia.
Giuffre became one of the most vocal accusers of Epstein, detailing allegations of sexual abuse that she claimed occurred between 1999 and 2002 after she was groomed by Ghislaine Maxwell. Her willingness to speak publicly encouraged other survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse to come forward.
Her testimony and cooperation with law enforcement were seen as significant in the investigation and subsequent conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges, as well as investigations by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York into other individuals connected to Epstein.
"Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking," her family said in a statement, describing her as "the light that lifted so many survivors." They stated that the lifelong toll of abuse ultimately became unbearable.
Giuffre had recently gained attention following claims she was involved in a severe bus crash in March near her home. She posted on social media from a hospital bed, stating she had suffered kidney failure and had only days to live.
However, Western Australia Police described the March 24 incident as a minor collision near Perth with no major injuries reported. Parents of children on the bus also reportedly disputed the severity of the crash. Giuffre was discharged from the hospital on April 7 and later made cryptic social media posts, including sharing a breakup song.
The incident occurred amidst ongoing legal issues for Giuffre, including an alleged breach of a family violence restraining order for which a court case was postponed until June due to her health. Court filings and reports indicate a difficult separation and custody dispute with her estranged husband Robert. She had posted about her children two days before the crash, expressing distress over not seeing them and alleging they were being "poisoned with lies."
Her representative, Dini von Mueffling, noted she was "slowly improving" from the crash aftermath prior to her death.
Giuffre previously filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew in 2021, alleging he sexually abused her when she was 17. Prince Andrew settled the case for an undisclosed amount in 2022 while denying the allegations.
"Virginia was one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honor to know," von Mueffling said.