Virginia Giuffre, Survivor of Epstein's Abuse Who Sought Justice, Dies by Suicide

April 26, 2025 | 03:29 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -  Virginia Giuffre, a survivor of sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein, has died by suicide, her family announced on Friday, April 25, 2025. Giuffre, aged 41, passed away in Neergabby, Australia, where she had resided for several years.

Giuffre was among the first and most outspoken figures to call for criminal charges against Epstein and his network of accomplices. Other survivors of Epstein’s abuse praised her for inspiring them to come forward with their own experiences.

She also provided critical information to law enforcement that played a significant role in the investigation and prosecution of Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Meanwhile, U.S. prosecutors continue their investigation in the Southern District of New York.

"It is with utterly broken hearts we announce 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," her brother, Danny Wilson, said in a statement to NBC News.

"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 it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight."

Giuffre spent much of her life in Florida and faced a difficult childhood, having reported abuse by a family friend and periods of homelessness during her teenage years.

While attempting to rebuild her life, she encountered Ghislaine Maxwell, a close associate of Epstein, who groomed her for sexual abuse by Epstein. The abuse, according to Giuffre, lasted from 1999 to 2002. She also accused Epstein of trafficking her to several of his influential associates, including Prince Andrew and French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

A court-released photograph showed Virginia Giuffre alongside Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell at Prince Andrew's residence in London.

Epstein, a wealthy financier, died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Giuffre moved to Australia with her husband before Epstein was arrested in 2019. The couple has three children.

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out to the nearest health institution and/or relevant authorities. The International Association for Suicide Prevention offers an exhaustive list of global helplines to assist you in times of crisis at https://www.iasp.info/crisis-centres-helplines/. 

If you’re in Indonesia, you can call Pulih Foundation at (021) 78842580, the Health Ministry's Mental Health hotline at (021) 500454, and the Jangan Bunuh Diri NGO hotline at (021) 9696 9293 for mental crisis assistance and/or suicide prevention measures. Into the Light Indonesia also has information about mental health and suicide prevention, as well as who to contact at https://www.intothelightid.org/tentang-bunuh-diri/hotline-dan-konseling/

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