Giuffre was one of the most outspoken victims of the disgraced U.S. financier Epstein, alleging she had been groomed and s**ually abused by him and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, beginning in her teenage years.
In 2021, Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew in the federal court in New York, alleging he s**ually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17. Prince Andrew has repeatedly and strongly denied the accusations.
The Duke of York defended himself in a 2019 interview with the BBC, stating: “I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever. It just never happened.”
Following backlash from the interview, Prince Andrew announced that he would be stepping back from public duties.
In 2022, it was announced that Giuffre and the duke had reached an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum.
Now, Giuffre’s family has confirmed news of the 41-year-old’s passing in a statement.
A statement released on Saturday confirmed the passing of Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide at her farm in Western Australia, where she had lived for several years. Born in the United States, Giuffre had become a prominent advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking.
“With hearts utterly broken, we share that Virginia passed away last night at her home in Western Australia. She took her own life after enduring a lifetime of trauma as a survivor of sexual abuse and human trafficking,” the family’s statement read, as reported by The Guardian.
“In the end, the burden of that pain became too much for her to carry.”
Her family remembered her as a “fierce warrior” in the fight against sexual violence and a “beacon of hope for countless survivors.”
“Despite all she endured, Virginia’s light never dimmed—she touched and uplifted so many lives. Her absence leaves a void beyond measure.”
Her attorney, Sigrid McCawley, reflected on the deep personal bond they shared: “Virginia was far more than a client—she was a dear friend and an extraordinary force for change. Her courage inspired me to fight harder, and her strength left all of us in awe.”
“The world lost an incredible soul today. Rest in peace, sweet angel.”
Western Australia Police Respond to Death of 41-Year-Old Woman
Western Australia Police have confirmed that emergency services responded to a call at approximately 9:50 p.m. on Friday regarding an unresponsive 41-year-old woman at her home. Despite emergency first aid efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
While the death is under investigation, authorities have stated it is not being treated as suspicious.
Earlier this month, the woman—identified as Giuffre—shared a post on Instagram in which she said she had been seriously injured in a car accident and suggested she had only days left to live. Her family later clarified that she had not intended to make that information public.
WA Police confirmed that a 41-year-old woman was involved in a collision between a car and a bus on March 24. No injuries were reported at the time. Giuffre was later seen at a Perth emergency department on April 1.
If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available:
- In the U.S., contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
- In the U.K., you can reach out to the Samaritans 24/7 by calling 116 123, emailing jo@samaritans.org, or visiting their website for more resources.
