Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most notable survivors of sexual abuse, died by suicide, her family said Friday.
Giuffre, 41, passed away in Neergabby, Australia.
Giuffre was one of the earliest and loudest voices calling for criminal charges against Epstein and his enabler. Other Epstein abuse survivors believed they later gave her the courage to speak up.
She also provided important information to law enforcement and later contributed to the conviction of Epstein’s associate Gith Lane Maxwell and other investigations by US lawyers for the Southern District of New York.
Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years on Tuesday for supporting wealthy financial operator Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused minor girl
“It’s completely broken heart to announce that Virginia had passed away last night on a farm in Western Australia,” her family said in a statement on NBC News. “She lost her life due to suicide after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sexual trafficking.”
“Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors,” the statement said. “In the end, the abuse victims were so heavy that it was unbearable for Virginia to handle that weight.”
Growing primarily in Florida, Giuffre had a childhood. She said she was abused by family friends and caused a downward spiral that led to life on the streets as a teenager.
She was about to rebuild her life when she met Maxwell, a close relative of Epstein. According to Giuffre, Maxwell was sexually abused by Epstein and groomed her. Giuffre also claimed that Epstein had trafficked her to his powerful friends, including Prince Andrew and French modelling agent Jean Reque Brunel.
Prince Andrew and Gislaine Maxwell at Prince Andrew’s London home, along with Virginia Giuffre (then Roberts), Prince Andrew and Gislaine Maxwell in photos released in court documents. ()
A wealthy investor, Epstein died of suicide in a New York prison in 2019 and was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Former British socialite Maxwell was found guilty of five sex trafficking counts in 2021 in her role recruiting young girls to be abused by Epstein.
Giuffle filed a federal lawsuit against Andrew in 2021, claiming that she sexually abused her at the age of 17. Andrew retreated from his duties as a profession in a dispute related to Epstein and agreed to settle the lawsuit for a private amount in 2022.
Jeffrey Epstein and Gislaine Maxwell of New York in 2005 (Patrick McMullan via Getty Image File)
Brunel, who headed several modeling agencies, was charged in December 2020 with sexual harassment and rape of at least one minor.
A few months ago, Giuffre testified against Brunel in June 2021 in a courtroom in Paris. In an interview after her day’s closing door testimony, Giuffre said she was the voice of the victim and that Brunel appeared in court to confirm that Brunel had been justified.
“I wanted Brunel to know that he doesn’t have the strength to me anymore,” Giuffre said.
Giuffle moved to Australia with her husband before Epstein’s 2019 arrest. The couple has three children.
Her brother, Danny Wilson, told NBC News that she “pushed so hard to smell evil” the world.
“Her biggest driving force was, ‘If I don’t do this, no one’s going to do it,'” he said regarding her advocacy. “She was feeling real physical pain. She was suffering from kidney failure. But I think the mental pain had worsened.”
Epstein’s story attracted new attention in the recent presidential election, with Attorney General Pam Bondy making his collection of Epstein-related files available to right-wing media figures and to the public in February.
The release was widely panned to include information that was almost entirely previously published, but the lead towards that release has been the cause of victims’ pain and anxiety in recent months, including concerns about the disclosure of sensitive or personally identified information about the victim, multiple victims told NBC News.
Giuffre’s lawyer Sigrid McCawley described her as “a dear friend and an incredible champion for other victims.”
People nearby Juhur said she remembered as a fighter.
“Virginia was one of the most extraordinary people I’ve ever known,” said her representative, Dini von Muuffling.
And Macquarie said, “Her courage pushes me to fight me stronger, and her strength makes me awe.”
In an interview with Epstein’s “Dateline” NBC special, which aired before authorities indicted Maxwell and Brunel, Giuffre urged law enforcement to act.
“Make us serious,” she said. “We are important.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the suicide and crisis lifeline. You can also call the network at 800-273-8255, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or visit speakingofsuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
This story first appeared on nbcnews.com. More from NBC News:
Source link
