Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, died by suicide at her farm in Western Australia on Friday (April 24). She was 41 years old. Giuffre, who was born in the United States, became a leading voice against sexual abuse and sex trafficking after publicly accusing Epstein and Maxwell of exploiting her as a teenager. She also accused Britain's Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, which he has denied. The prince settled with Giuffre out of court in 2022.

Her family described her as "a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse" and said that the "toll of abuse... became unbearable." According to BBC News, Giuffre was found unresponsive at her home, and the police stated that her death is not considered suspicious.

Giuffre's life was marked by her relentless pursuit of justice for herself and other survivors. She founded the advocacy charity Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) in 2015 to support survivors of sexual assault. Her publicist, Dini von Mueffling, described her as "deeply loving, wise, and funny," and said it was "the privilege of a lifetime to represent her."

In the weeks leading up to her death, Giuffre had been involved in a car accident and had publicly shared her struggles with domestic violence. She had separated from her husband, Robert Giuffre, with whom she had three children. Her sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, told People that Giuffre's mental pain became overwhelming, despite her efforts to fight back against her past traumas.

Giuffre's legacy as an advocate for survivors will continue through SOAR, as her family pledges to carry on her work.

Anyone who needs to talk can call 800-273-8255 no matter the time of day.

Vicki McKenna