Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse, dies by suicide | World News
Virginia Giuffre, who has accused Jeffrey Epstein of allegedly trafficking her to Prince Andrew and for sexual abuse, has died by suicide at the age of 41. Her family confirmed her death in a statement shared on Friday, saying she passed away at her farm in Western Australia, where she had been living for several years.
“Virginia lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” her family said, as reported by The Guardian. “It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night.”
Described by her family as a “fierce warrior” in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking, Giuffre was known globally for her courage in speaking out against powerful figures connected to Epstein’s trafficking network. She was the “light that lifted so many survivors,” the statement said. “Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.”
Giuffre is survived by her three children — Christian, Noah and Emily.
The allegations
An American citizen, Giuffre said she met British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000, who then introduced her to financier Jeffrey Epstein. She alleged she was groomed and sexually abused by Epstein and trafficked to his associates as a teenager.
In a 2021 civil lawsuit, Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of sexually assaulting her on three occasions in 2001 when she was 17. Andrew has denied all allegations. The case was settled out of court in 2022 for an undisclosed amount. The settlement did not include an admission of guilt, but Andrew expressed regret for his association with Epstein.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for her role in the trafficking network. Epstein died by suicide in a US jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
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Earlier this month, Giuffre posted on social media that she had only days to live after being injured in a car accident involving a school bus. Her family has not provided further details but confirmed that the emotional and psychological toll of her experiences contributed to her death.
“There are no words that can express the grave loss we feel today with the passing of our sweet Virginia,” the family said. “She was heroic and will always be remembered for her incredible courage and loving spirit.”
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