Warning: This article discusses suicide which might be upsetting for some readers.
Virginia Giuffre, who played a significant role in bringing Jeffrey Epstein to justice, has tragically passed away at the age of 41.
Her family has announced that she took her own life at her residence in Australia on April 25.
In a sorrowful statement, the family of Giuffre, formerly known as Roberts, shared: “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.
“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.”
Authorities in Western Australia confirmed their response to her home in the Neergabby area, north of Perth, where Giuffre was found non-responsive.
“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 spokesperson stated.
“The death is being investigated by Major Crime detectives; early indication is the death is not suspicious.”
Earlier in March, Giuffre shared via Instagram about a severe car accident with a school bus, leaving her with what she called a potentially life-threatening health condition.
The 41-year-old described: “This year has been the worst start to a new year, but I won’t bore anyone with the details but I think it important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving 110km[h] [68mph] as we were slowing for a turn that no matter what your car is made of it might as well be a tin can.
“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, but you know what they say about wishes.
“S**T in one hand and wish in the other & I guarantee it’s still going to be s**t at the end of the day. Thank you all for being the wonderful people of the world and for being a great part of my life. Godbless you all xx Virginia.”
She was released from the hospital by April 7.
The police later described the collision as ‘minor’ with ‘no reported injuries’, though Giuffre’s family claimed they were told by police that ‘no one was available to come to the scene’.
The family statement added: “They asked if anyone was injured and suggested that if they were, they should make their way to the hospital.
“The school bus driver had a bus full of distraught children and left the scene to get them back, saying he would file a police report, which he did later.
“Virginia was banged up and bruised and returned home. Virginia’s condition worsened and she was admitted to the hospital.
“Concerning her Instagram post, Virginia thought that she had posted on her private Facebook page. Virginia and her family thank everyone for their concern.”
A month prior, Giuffre faced charges for breaching a family violence restraining order in Ocean Reef, near Perth, amid reports of conflicts with her estranged husband Robert.
Her case first appeared in Joondalup Magistrates’ Court in northern Perth on March 14, where she did not plead.
The hearing was postponed to June 11, with her agent mentioning that Giuffre ‘looks forward to defending herself against [Robert’s] malicious claim’.
Giuffre claimed that at 17, she was sex trafficked to Prince Andrew by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and was ‘forced to have sex’ with the royal at Epstein’s New York apartment.
Prince Andrew denies all accusations against him.
In 2022, Giuffre reached a financial settlement with the Royal out of court, without any admission of wrongdoing from him.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell received a 20-year sentence in 2022 for her involvement in the sexual abuse of young girls.
In response to her passing, Giuffre’s publicist Dini von Mueffling expressed that she was ‘deeply loving, wise and funny’.
“She adored her children and many animals. She was always more concerned with me than with herself,” she stated.
“I will miss her beyond words. It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.”
If you or someone you know is in distress or facing a mental health crisis, support is available through Mental Health America. You can call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for online chat. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you’re affected by the issues discussed in this article, contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673), which offers 24/7 support. Alternatively, you can chat online at online.rainn.org