Virginia Giuffre, whose courageous testimony helped expose the widespread sexual abuse and trafficking perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, has died by suicide, her family announced Friday. She was 41 years old.
In a heartbreaking statement, Giuffre’s family said she passed away at her farm in Western Australia. “It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night,” the statement read. “She lost her life to suicide after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.” The family emphasized that her greatest source of strength and joy came from her three children — Christian, Noah, and Emily. “It was when she held her newborn daughter in her arms that Virginia realized she had to fight back against those who had abused her and so many others,” they said.
Virginia Giuffre rose to global prominence as a leading figure in the fight to expose sexual abuse by powerful men. As a teenager, Giuffre alleged she was trafficked by financier Jeffrey Epstein, and that among those she was forced to have sexual contact with was Britain’s Prince Andrew. In 2009, Giuffre reached a $500,000 settlement with Epstein in a civil case. Years later, her allegations against Prince Andrew reignited international scrutiny. In 2021, she filed a lawsuit in New York accusing the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was 17, at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion and other locations. Prince Andrew consistently denied the allegations and questioned Giuffre’s credibility, but ultimately settled the lawsuit out of court in 2022 without admitting wrongdoing.
Beyond Prince Andrew, Giuffre also accused Epstein’s longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, of facilitating her abuse. Giuffre’s 2015 civil lawsuit against Maxwell became a key part of the public’s understanding of the Epstein network. Over several years, hundreds of documents related to that case were unsealed, revealing disturbing details about Epstein’s operations and the involvement of powerful figures.
Giuffre’s allegations and advocacy played a pivotal role in both civil and criminal proceedings tied to Epstein and Maxwell. In August 2019, one day after a federal appeals court unsealed portions of Giuffre’s 2015 lawsuit against Maxwell, Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges. His death was officially ruled a suicide by the New York Medical Examiner, a conclusion later affirmed by the U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General.
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on five of six counts related to her role in facilitating Epstein’s abuse of underage girls. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison and has consistently maintained her innocence. Earlier this month, Maxwell appealed her conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court, though the Court has yet to decide whether to hear her case. While Giuffre was not called to testify during Maxwell’s criminal trial, her role as one of the first and most vocal survivors gave momentum to the broader movement for justice against Epstein’s circle.
Giuffre’s death marks a tragic chapter in the ongoing fallout of the Epstein scandal. For many survivors of sexual abuse, public litigation and media exposure bring their own burdens, compounding trauma even as they seek accountability. Giuffre’s life symbolized both the resilience and the vulnerabilities of survivors who challenge entrenched power structures. Her passing is also likely to have ripple effects on ongoing legal battles involving Epstein’s associates and estate. Although many civil settlements have already been reached, Epstein’s broader network remains under investigation, and new lawsuits continue to emerge.
Her family emphasized that Giuffre’s legacy is one of fierce advocacy. “Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse,” they said. “Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.”
Authorities in Western Australia have not released further details surrounding Giuffre’s death. It remains unclear whether a formal inquest or investigation will be conducted. Meanwhile, legal proceedings connected to Epstein’s associates — including Ghislaine Maxwell’s Supreme Court appeal — are expected to continue. Survivor advocacy groups and human rights organizations have already begun honoring Giuffre’s memory, highlighting her bravery in confronting abusers and inspiring countless others to come forward.
