Virginia Giuffre, one of the most well-known survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network, has died by suicide at the age of 41, her family confirmed Friday. She died at her farm in Neergabby, Western Australia, where she had been living with her husband and three children.
What did Giuffre’s family say?
In a statement shared with NBC News, her family said, “Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors.” The statement added, “In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.”
BREAKING: Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre has taken her life, according to NBC News.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 26, 2025
Giuffre was one of the most vocal Epstein accusers who inspired others to speak out.
“It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm… pic.twitter.com/2YHvaB6KC8
Raised in Florida, Giuffre endured sexual abuse as a child and experienced homelessness as a teen. She was groomed and trafficked by Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein from 1999 to 2002, during which she said she was also trafficked to high-profile individuals, including Prince Andrew and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.
Giuffre later became a central figure in legal and public efforts to hold Epstein’s network accountable, providing key information to US authorities and inspiring many other survivors to come forward.
Legal battles
In 2021, Giuffre filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew, alleging he sexually abused her when she was 17. The case was settled out of court in 2022, with Andrew denying all allegations. She also testified against Brunel in 2021 in Paris, declaring afterward, “I wanted Brunel to know that he no longer has the power over me.”
Despite suffering from physical ailments like renal failure, Giuffre remained active in her advocacy. Her brother, Danny Wilson, told NBC News that she “pushed so hard to snuff the evil out” and never stopped fighting, even as her mental and physical health declined.
Giuffre’s death comes amid renewed public attention on the Epstein case, with concerns over victim privacy reignited by recent file releases. Friends and legal allies remembered her as a courageous leader. Her attorney, Sigrid McCawley, called her “an incredible champion for other victims,” while her representative, Dini von Mueffling, described her as “one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honor to know.”
Giuffre once said, “Take us serious. We matter.”
