Virginia Giuffre, the woman who publicly accused Prince Andrew and other powerful men of sexually abusing her as a teenager trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, has died at the age of 41. Her publicist confirmed that she died by suicide on Friday, April 25, at her farm in Western Australia.
“Virginia was deeply loving, wise, and funny—a light for survivors of abuse,” said publicist Dini von Mueffling. “She adored her children and animals, and she always cared more about others than herself. Representing her was a true honor.”
Giuffre, an American who had lived in Australia for years, became a leading voice for survivors of sex trafficking after speaking out about her own experience as a victim of Epstein’s abuse network.
She first gained public attention after revealing she was recruited at age 17 while working as a spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s Florida resort. She said Ghislaine Maxwell hired her as a masseuse but quickly pressured her into sexual servitude for Epstein and his associates.
Giuffre alleged that she was trafficked to powerful men, including Britain’s Prince Andrew, with whom she said she had sex three times between the ages of 17 and 18. The Prince has denied the claims, but his public response—including a controversial BBC interview—sparked widespread criticism. He later stepped back from royal duties and in 2022 reached a confidential settlement with Giuffre.
While some of Giuffre’s claims were challenged, parts were backed by documents, photos, and witness accounts—including a now-famous photo of her with Prince Andrew, his arm around her waist, taken at Maxwell’s London home.
Epstein, who was under federal investigation for sex trafficking, died by suicide in jail in 2019. Maxwell was later convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Although Giuffre’s allegations were not part of that trial, she later described Maxwell in court as the person who “opened the door to hell.”
Over the years, Giuffre filed lawsuits against Epstein and others in his circle, settling several cases. She also founded SOAR, an advocacy group for sex trafficking survivors, and became a powerful voice for change.
Born Virginia Roberts, she had a troubled upbringing marked by early abuse. She met her husband in Thailand in 2002 and later moved to Australia, where they raised a family.
Recently, Giuffre had been hospitalized following a serious accident, according to her publicist. A social media post, reportedly from her, said she had been critically injured when her car was hit by a school bus.
