Virginia Giuffre, one of the most outspoken survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse, has died by suicide at the age of 41, her family announced Friday.
Giuffre, who had been living in Neergabby, Australia, passed away at her farm, leaving behind her husband and three children.
“It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night. She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” said her family.
They described her as a fierce advocate who fought tirelessly for other survivors, but who ultimately could not withstand the heavy toll of her past trauma.
Raised in Florida, Giuffre endured a troubled upbringing marked by early abuse that sent her into homelessness as a teen. It was during this vulnerable period that she was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s confidante, who groomed her for exploitation by Epstein and his powerful associates between 1999 and 2002.
Among those she later accused were Britain’s Prince Andrew and French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.
Her courage in stepping forward made Giuffre a pivotal figure in the Epstein saga. She was instrumental in bringing global attention to Epstein’s abuses and providing law enforcement with critical information that helped convict Maxwell in 2021 on multiple sex trafficking charges. She also played a key role in the broader investigations launched by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York.
Giuffre famously filed a civil suit against Prince Andrew in 2021, alleging he sexually abused her when she was 17. Although Andrew has consistently denied the allegations, he agreed to settle the case in 2022 for an undisclosed amount, a decision widely seen as an effort to avoid a highly public trial.
Giuffre’s bravery extended to international stages as well. She testified against Jean-Luc Brunel in Paris in 2021, confronting the man she said had trafficked her when she was a teenager.
“I wanted Brunel to know he no longer has power over me,” she said at the time. “I am a grown woman now, and I’ve decided to hold him accountable.”
Brunel died by suicide in a French jail in 2022, echoing the circumstances of Epstein’s death in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Despite her efforts to move on—relocating to Australia years ago—Giuffre’s battle was far from over. Her brother, Danny Wilson, said she continued to struggle, both physically and emotionally, suffering from renal failure and chronic mental anguish.
“Her biggest push was, ‘If I don’t do this, nobody’s going to do it,'” he said, referring to her relentless advocacy. “She pushed so hard to snuff the evil out.”
Adding to her distress, victims like Giuffre faced renewed public scrutiny earlier this year after Attorney General Pam Bondi released Epstein-related files to the media. Though the documents contained little new information, the looming threat of privacy violations caused significant anxiety for many survivors.
Giuffre’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, paid tribute to her, calling her a “dear friend and an incredible champion for other victims.”
“Her courage pushed me to fight harder,” McCawley said. “Her strength was awe-inspiring.”
Those closest to Giuffre remembered her not just as a survivor, but as a fighter who demanded justice for herself and countless others.
“Virginia was one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honor to know,” said her representative, Dini von Mueffling.
Before authorities brought charges against Maxwell and Brunel, Giuffre appeared in a Dateline NBC special pleading with law enforcement to take victims seriously. “Take us serious,” she said. “We matter.”
Virginia Giuffre’s death is a devastating reminder of the lifelong burden survivors of abuse often carry, even as they fight to make the world a better, safer place for others.