Virginia Giuffre has died (Image: Getty)
Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault, has died aged 41. In a statement, her family said she took her own life at the farm in Australia where she had been living for several years.
Her family hailed Ms Giuffre as a "fierce warrior" in the battle against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Ms Giuffre had become over the years one of the most prominent voices accusing Jeffrey Epstein of grooming and sexually abusing victims, including herself. The family's statement read: "It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia. She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
READ MORE: Woman driving car in Virginia Giuffre bus crash breaks silence
Giuffre became a prominent campaigner against sexual abuse and exploitaiton (Image: Getty)
“In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.”
They added: "Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure".
She is survived by her three children, whom the statement described as the “light of her life.”
Police confirmed emergency services received reports of an unresponsive woman at a property in the Perth suburb of Neergabby on Friday night.
“Police and St John Western Australia attended and provided emergency first aid. Sadly, the 41-year-old woman was declared deceased at the scene,” a police spokeswoman said.
“The death is being investigated by Major Crime detectives; early indication is the death is not suspicious.”
Don't miss...
Everything we know about Prince Andrew's accuser Virginia Giuffre [LATEST]
'Keir Starmer must apologise to brave women after Supreme Court trans ruling' [LATEST]
Have you say on whether Prince Louis should be given the Duke of York title [LATEST]
Protesters and an Anti-Monarchist Protest show solidarity with the accuser (Image: Getty)
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Ms Giuffre’s long-time publicist Dini von Mueffling said her client was “one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honour to know”.
“Deeply loving, wise, and funny, she was a beacon to other survivors and victims,” Ms von Mueffling said.
“It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.”
Ms Giuffre was treated in an Australian hospital after a serious accident, her publicist said last month.
At the time, she did not answer questions about the date, location, nature or other specifics of the incident and about the accuracy of an Instagram post from Ms Giuffre, in which the activist said she had been in a car that was hit by a school bus, and her prognosis was dire.
Giuffre alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew, a claim the Duke denied (Image: Getty)
American-born Giuffre has lived in Australia for years and became an advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in the prolonged downfall of disgraced paedophile financier Epstein.
She alleged that Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwelltrafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17, a claim which Andrew has denied.
She came forward publicly after the initial investigation ended in an 18-month prison sentence for Epstein. Under a secret arrangement, the US attorney’s office agreed not to prosecute Epstein for federal crimes, and he served most of his sentence in a work-release programme that allowed him to leave jail during the day to go to his office, then return at night.
In subsequent lawsuits, Ms Giuffre claimed she was a spa attendant as a teen at Mar-a-Lago when she was approached in 2000 by Maxwell.
She claimed to have been hired as a masseuse for Epstein and to have been flown around the world for meetings with men at Epstein’s behest, including the Duke of York, while she was 17 and 18. Prince Andrew said during his interview with Newsnight in 2019 he had no recollection of meeting his accuser and has denied any wrongdoing multiple times.
The duke reportedly paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case launched by Ms Giuffre in 2021, with the out-of-court settlement not representing an admission of liability.
She sued him for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by Epstein, a claim that he denied.
The Samaritans can be reached round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on the phone. You can reach them by calling 116 123, by emailingjo@samaritans.orgor by visitingwww.samaritans.org.
