Virginia Giuffre, one in all Jeffrey Epstein's most outstanding abuse survivors, dies by suicide

[ad_1] Virginia Giuffre, one of the vital outstanding survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse , has died by suicide, her household stated Friday.

Giuffre, 41, died in Neergabby, Australia, the place she had been residing for a number of years.

Giuffre was one of many earliest and loudest voices calling for criminal charges against Epstein and his enablers. Different Epstein abuse survivors later credited her with giving them the braveness to talk out.

She additionally offered vital data to legislation enforcement that contributed to the investigation into and later the conviction of Epstein’s affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell, in addition to different investigations by the U.S. legal professional for the Southern District of New York.

"It's with totally damaged hearts that we announce that Virginia handed away final night time at her farm in Western Australia," her household stated in a press release to NBC Information. "She misplaced her life to suicide, after being a lifelong sufferer of sexual abuse and intercourse trafficking."

"Virginia was a fierce warrior within the combat towards sexual abuse and intercourse trafficking. She was the sunshine that lifted so many survivors," the assertion stated. “In the long run, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it turned insufferable for Virginia to deal with its weight."

Raised primarily in Florida, Giuffre had a troubled childhood. She stated she was abused by a household buddy, triggering a downward spiral that led to her residing on the streets for a time as an adolescent.

She was trying to rebuild her life when she met Maxwell, Epstein’s shut confidant. Maxwell groomed her to be sexually abused by Epstein, and that abuse continued from 1999 to 2002, based on Giuffre. Giuffre additionally alleged that Epstein trafficked her to his highly effective mates, together with Prince Andrew and French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

<source media="(min-width: 1000px)" srcset="https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2/rockcms/2025-04/190809-evidence-image-virginia-giuffre-roberts-jeffrey-epstein-mn-0750-2273b2-dd51a9.jpg 2x, https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2025-04/190809-evidence-image-virginia-giuffre-roberts-jeffrey-epstein-mn-0750-2273b2-dd51a9.jpg 1x"/><source media="(min-width: 320px)" srcset="https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2/rockcms/2025-04/190809-evidence-image-virginia-giuffre-roberts-jeffrey-epstein-mn-0750-2273b2-dd51a9.jpg 2x, https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2025-04/190809-evidence-image-virginia-giuffre-roberts-jeffrey-epstein-mn-0750-2273b2-dd51a9.jpg 1x"/> Virginia Giuffre (then Roberts) with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell at Prince Andrew's London dwelling in a photograph launched with courtroom paperwork. Epstein, a rich financier, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 whereas he was awaiting trial on federal intercourse trafficking fees.

Maxwell, a former British socialite, was discovered responsible on 5 counts of intercourse trafficking in 2021 for her function in recruiting younger ladies to be abused by Epstein.

Giuffre filed a federal lawsuit towards Andrew in 2021, alleging that he sexually abused her when she was 17. Andrew, who stepped again from his duties as an lively royal as controversy associated to Epstein swirled round him, agreed to settle the case for an undisclosed quantity in 2022. He has denied having intercourse along with her.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in New York in 2005. Patrick McMullan by way of Getty Photographs file Brunel, who headed a number of modeling businesses, was charged with sexual harassment and the rape of no less than one minor in December 2020. He denied wrongdoing and died by suicide in his jail cell in February 2022.

A number of months prior, Giuffre testified towards Brunel in a Paris courtroom in June 2021. In an interview after her daylong closed-door testimony, Giuffre stated she appeared in courtroom to be a voice for the victims and to verify Brunel was dropped at justice.

“I needed Brunel to know that he not has the ability over me,” Giuffre stated, “that I'm a grown lady now and I’ve determined to carry him accountable for what he did to me and so many others.”

Giuffre moved to Australia along with her husband earlier than Epstein’s 2019 arrest. The couple has three kids.

Her brother, Danny Wilson, advised NBC Information she "pushed so onerous to snuff the evil out" of the world.

"Her largest push was, 'If I don’t do that, no person’s going to do it,'" he stated, relating to her advocacy. "She was in actual bodily ache — suffered from renal failure. However I believe that the psychological ache was worse."

The Epstein story acquired renewed consideration throughout the newest presidential election, and in February, Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi launched a group of Epstein-related recordsdata to right-wing media figures after which to the general public.

Although the discharge was widely panned for holding data that was virtually totally beforehand public, the lead-up to its launch — together with considerations concerning the disclosure of delicate or personally figuring out details about victims — had been a supply of misery and nervousness for victims in latest months, a number of victims advised NBC Information.

Giuffre’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, described her as a “pricey buddy and an unbelievable champion for different victims.”

Those that had been near Giuffre stated they remembered her as a fighter.

"Virginia was one of the vital extraordinary human beings I've ever had the dignity to know," her consultant, Dini von Mueffling, stated.

And McCawley stated, “Her braveness pushed me to combat tougher, and her power was awe-inspiring."

In an interview for a "Dateline" NBC particular on Epstein that aired earlier than authorities charged Maxwell and Brunel, Giuffre urged legislation enforcement to behave.

"Take us severe," she stated. "We matter."

In the event you or somebody you already know is in disaster, name 988 to achieve the Suicide and Disaster Lifeline. You too can name the community, beforehand often known as the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255 , textual content HOME to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for added sources.