Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accused the late Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, has died by suicide, her family has announced. Virginia was 41.
"Giuffre lost her life to suicide, having been a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and human trafficking," her family wrote in a statement provided to People on Friday (April 25, 2025).
The statement said:
"Virginia was a strong fighter in the battle against sexual abuse and human trafficking. Despite all the hardships she experienced in her life, she shone brightly. We will miss her immensely. The light of her life were her children Christian, Noah and Emily."
The family further stated:
"There are no words that can express the immense pain we feel today with the passing of our beloved Virginia. She was heroic and will always be remembered for her extraordinary courage and loving spirit. In the end, the burden of abuse was so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia. We know that she is now with the angels."
Virginia's lawyer, who had been following the extraordinary sexual abuse case, also issued a statement about Virginia's death.
"Virginia was so much more than a client to me; she was a dear friend and an incredible champion for other victims. Her courage pushed me to fight even harder, and her strength was inspiring. The world lost a wonderful person today. Rest in peace, my sweet angel," said lawyer Sigrid McCaëley.
News of Giuffre's death comes weeks after she said she had been hit by a school bus and had "only a few days to live." In late March, Giuffre posted a selfie from the hospital on Instagram, telling her followers about "the worst start to a new year."
However, a day later, a spokesperson for the Western Australian Police Force (WAPF) cast doubt on Giuffre's claims, saying they had received a report of a "minor accident" between a bus and a car in Neergabby, Australia. Police added that "there were no reported injuries as a result of the accident." Virginia responded by saying that her condition was serious and that she was receiving medical attention. Six days later, Giuffre was released from hospital.
In 2021, Giuffre sued Prince Andrew, 65, for sexual assault, claiming he raped her when she was a teenager as part of Epstein's sex trafficking ring.
She and Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement for an estimated $12 million in 2022. Andrew denied any wrongdoing, but his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, stripped him of his military titles as a result of the scandal.
Suggested articles:
