Virginia Giuffre, Epstein and Prince Andrew Accuser Who Became a Global Voice Against Sex Trafficking, Dies by Suicide at 41 at Her Australian Farm
NEERGABBY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA — April 25, 2025
Virginia Giuffre, the American-Australian woman whose brave testimony helped bring global attention to Jeffrey Epstein’s and Ghislaine Maxwell’s vast sex trafficking network, has tragically died by suicide at the age of 41, her family confirmed in a heartfelt statement released on Friday.
The shocking news has reverberated around the world, as Giuffre was not only one of the most prominent accusers in the high-profile cases involving Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew, but also a powerful advocate for survivors of sexual abuse. Her family described her as “a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse,” adding that “the toll of the abuse she endured became unbearable.”
She was found unresponsive at her farm in Neergabby, a quiet rural area north of Perth, Australia. Emergency responders were called to the scene Friday evening. Western Australia Police said that while the incident remains under investigation by major crime detectives, early indications suggest there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
A Voice for the Voiceless
Virginia Giuffre, born Virginia Roberts in the United States, emerged from unimaginable trauma to become a galvanizing figure in the global movement against human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Her story, though harrowing, offered hope and inspiration to many survivors who saw her as a symbol of courage and tenacity.
Giuffre alleged that at age 17, she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to Prince Andrew, the Duke of York—an allegation he has consistently denied. In 2022, after years of legal wrangling and mounting public scrutiny, Prince Andrew reached a multi-million-dollar out-of-court settlement with Giuffre. The agreement did not include an admission of liability, but it did express regret over his ties to Epstein.
Though legal battles and media attention were constant parts of her life for over a decade, Giuffre refused to be silenced. She used her platform to speak out not just against her own abusers, but on behalf of victims worldwide. Her work became a rallying point within the #MeToo movement, and she co-founded organizations focused on ending child trafficking and abuse.
A Personal Struggle Hidden Behind Advocacy
Despite her public strength, Giuffre’s personal life was marked by ongoing challenges. She had recently been living in North Perth with her three children and husband, Robert Giuffre, though reports indicated the couple had recently separated after more than two decades of marriage.
In March, she posted on Instagram about a serious car accident she had recently survived—an incident her family later said she did not intend to make public. Local authorities disputed the severity of the crash, but it painted a picture of a woman who, despite her resilience, was enduring significant emotional and physical distress.
“She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” the family said in their statement. “She was the light that lifted so many survivors out of darkness.”
Her passing has sparked an outpouring of grief and support from activists, survivors, and public figures worldwide. Many praised her for her relentless fight for justice and her willingness to relive trauma in order to ensure others would not suffer the same fate.
The Legacy of a Survivor
Virginia Giuffre’s journey began with unimaginable hardship. She first met Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000 while living in Florida. Maxwell, a British socialite with deep ties to the rich and powerful, introduced her to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier whose international web of sex trafficking would eventually be exposed.
Giuffre described in chilling detail how she was manipulated, groomed, and trafficked by Epstein and his associates—an experience that lasted for years and involved travel around the world. Her accounts were instrumental in publicizing the scope of Epstein’s criminal network, as well as in pushing for Maxwell’s prosecution.
Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting federal trial for sex trafficking. His death was officially ruled a suicide, though conspiracy theories persist due to the many high-profile individuals connected to his case. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 and sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls.
Giuffre’s testimony—and the settlement with Prince Andrew—served as a watershed moment in the broader societal reckoning with how wealth, power, and privilege have shielded predators from accountability for decades.
Global Mourning and Calls for Continued Justice
As the world processes the loss of one of the most recognized voices in the fight against trafficking, there are renewed calls to uphold Giuffre’s mission. Advocates are urging governments and law enforcement agencies to do more to protect victims, investigate abusers, and dismantle trafficking networks.
In a joint statement, several U.S. and Australian anti-trafficking organizations wrote, “Virginia’s courage changed the world. She forced the powerful to answer for their actions and inspired thousands to come forward. We grieve her loss deeply, but we also recommit to the cause she championed.”
Giuffre’s family has asked for privacy as they navigate this heartbreaking time and indicated that a private memorial service will be held in the coming days.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available.
In the U.S., contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
In the UK, support is available through the Samaritans at 116 123.
In Australia, you can contact Lifeline at 13 11 14.