Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent voices in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking, and a key accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, has died by suicide at her farm in Western Australia, her family confirmed Friday. She was 41.
Her family remembered her as a “fierce warrior” who spent her life advocating for survivors of sexual exploitation, despite enduring unimaginable hardship herself.
“Virginia was the light that lifted so many survivors,” the statement read. “Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.”
Guiffre had been seriously injured last month when the car she was riding in was struck by a school bus. Her family did not comment on whether the incident had any connection to her death.
Born in California, she moved with her family to Florida during grade school. Her early years were marked by trauma; she revealed to the Miami Herald that she was first molested by a family friend at the age of seven, an experience she said irrevocably altered the course of her life.
As a teenager, Giuffre met British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell while working as a locker room attendant at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, where her father was employed as a maintenance worker. Giuffre alleged that Maxwell introduced her to Epstein, setting off a chain of abuse that would define much of her life’s narrative.
Giuffre became a central figure in the Epstein saga, publicly accusing him, Maxwell, and others, including Britain’s Prince Andrew, of sexual exploitation. In a high-profile lawsuit filed in 2021, Giuffre alleged that Prince Andrew sexually abused her when she was 17. Though the prince denied the allegations, the case was settled out of court in 2022.
Attorney Sigrid McCawley, who represented Giuffre, paid tribute to her client and friend in a statement: “Virginia was much more than a client to me; 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. The world has lost an amazing human being today. Rest in peace, my sweet angel.”
Following Epstein’s 2019 death, ruled a suicide in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial, Giuffre remained an unrelenting advocate for victims of sexual abuse. She founded Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR), a nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about sex trafficking and providing support for survivors.
In 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in Epstein’s decades-long abuse of underage girls, a conviction that Giuffre had long fought to see.
Virginia Giuffre’s death is a devastating loss for a community that found hope and strength in her advocacy. She leaves behind a legacy of bravery, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
