Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre found dead at 41

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Virginia Giuffre, a vocal survivor of sex trafficking who settled a sexual assault lawsuit against the Duke of York, has died at the age of 41, her publicist confirmed. The mother of three, who accused the Duke of York of sexually abusing her at 17 after being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, reportedly passed away at her home in Western Australia. Her family described her as a “fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse” who succumbed after the “toll of abuse… became unbearable.”

In a heartfelt statement, her family revealed, “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.” They paid tribute by saying, “Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors. In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.” She leaves behind three children, described as the “light of her life.”

Ms. Giuffre was one of the most outspoken accusers of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, claiming they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17, a claim the Duke has denied. She is believed to have died at her farm in Western Australia, with police confirming emergency services responded to reports of an unresponsive woman at a property in Neergabby on Friday night. A police spokeswoman stated, “Police and St John Western Australia attended and provided emergency first aid. Sadly, the 41-year-old woman was declared deceased at the scene,” adding that the death is being investigated by Major Crime detectives but early indications suggest it is not suspicious.

Dini von Mueffling, Ms. Giuffre’s longtime publicist, described her as “one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honour to know,” calling her “deeply loving, wise, and funny” and “a beacon to other survivors and victims.” Lawyer Sigrid McCawley also paid tribute, saying, “Her courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring. The world has lost an amazing human being today. Rest in peace, my sweet angel.” Last month, Ms. Giuffre was hospitalized in Australia following a serious accident, though details about the incident were not disclosed.

Ms. Giuffre had posted on social media about being in a car collision with a school bus and facing a dire prognosis, stating, “I’ve gone into kidney renal failure, they’ve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology. I’m ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time.” A spokesperson later clarified that the Instagram post was mistakenly shared publicly instead of on her private Facebook page. Earlier this year, she faced legal issues, being charged with breaching a family violence restraining order in Ocean Reef, near Perth, with her case set for a plea hearing in June.

Born in America, Ms. Giuffre had lived in Australia for several years and became a prominent advocate for survivors of sex trafficking after emerging as a key figure in the downfall of Epstein. She came forward publicly after Epstein’s controversial 18-month Florida jail sentence following a secret deal in 2009. Ms. Giuffre claimed she was working as a spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach club owned by Donald Trump, when Maxwell approached her in 2000. She was then hired as a masseuse for Epstein and traveled internationally to meet men he arranged, including the Duke of York, while she was 17 and 18.

The Duke of York settled a civil sexual assault case with Ms. Giuffre, maintaining he had never met her. She sued him for allegedly sexually assaulting her at 17 after being trafficked by Epstein, bringing significant attention to the case and the broader issues surrounding Epstein’s network. Her death marks the loss of a determined and courageous voice in the fight against sexual abuse and trafficking.