Source: BBC
Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein, has died by suicide at age 41, her family announced Friday.
Giuffre, a mother of three and outspoken advocate for sexual abuse survivors, was found unresponsive at her farm in Neergabby, Western Australia. Authorities said her death is not considered suspicious.
Born in the United States, Giuffre became a central figure in the fight against sex trafficking, alleging that Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell abused her and trafficked her to Prince Andrew when she was 17. The Duke of York has denied the allegations but reached a settlement with Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability.
In a statement, her family described her as "a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse" and said "the toll of abuse became unbearable." Giuffre’s longtime spokesperson, Dini von Mueffling, called her "a beacon to other survivors and victims."
Giuffre had recently been involved in a car accident, which she had shared publicly on Instagram weeks before her death. She had been living in North Perth with her husband, Robert, though reports indicated the couple had separated after 22 years of marriage.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the abuse.
