Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse, has died by suicide aged 41, her household has mentioned.
Ms Giuffre was probably the most outspoken accusers of convicted intercourse offenders Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, his former girlfriend. She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17, which Prince Andrew has strenuously denied.
Family mentioned in a press release on Friday that she had been a “fierce warrior within the struggle towards sexual abuse”, and that the “toll of abuse… grew to become insufferable”.
“She misplaced her life to suicide, after being a lifelong sufferer of sexual abuse and intercourse trafficking,” they mentioned.
The assertion described the mom of three “as the sunshine that lifted so many survivors” and mentioned she died on Friday at her farm in Western Australia.
West Australia police mentioned they have been known as to a house within the Neergabby space on Friday night time, the place Ms Giuffre was discovered unresponsive.
A press release continued: “The dying is being investigated by Main Crime detectives; early indication is the dying is just not suspicious.”
Ms Giuffre – who was born within the US – had been dwelling along with her kids and husband Robert within the suburb of North Perth, though latest experiences recommended the couple had break up after 22 years of marriage.
Three weeks in the past, Ms Giuffre posted on Instagram to say she had been significantly injured in a automobile accident, which her household later mentioned she had not supposed to make public. Native police later disputed the severity of the crash.
After making her abuse allegations public, Ms Giuffre grew to become a distinguished campaigner and was carefully related to the Me Too motion.
Ms Giuffre alleged that Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her to Prince Andrew when she was 17.
The prince, who has denied all claims towards him, reached an out-of-court settlement along with her in 2022.
The settlement included a press release through which he expressed remorse for his affiliation with Epstein however contained no admission of legal responsibility or apology.
Ms Giuffre mentioned she grew to become a sufferer of intercourse trafficking when she was a youngster.
She mentioned she met Maxwell, a British socialite, within the 12 months 2000.
From there, she mentioned she was launched to American financier Epstein and alleged years of abuse by him and his associates.
Epstein took his personal life in jail in 2019, the place he was being held awaiting trial on intercourse trafficking fees.
He was beforehand convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Maxwell was sentenced to twenty years in jail within the US for her function in Epstein’s trafficking and abuse.
If you’re struggling misery or despair, particulars of assist and help within the UK can be found at BBC Motion Line. Within the US, you’ll be able to contact the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or the Disaster Take a look at Line by texting HOME to 741741. Assist can be out there within the US and Canada by dialing 988. Younger folks in want of assist can name Children Assist Cellphone on 1-800-668-6868
