Virginia Giuffre, a prominent advocate for sex trafficking survivors who famously settled a sexual assault lawsuit against the UK’s Prince Andrew, has died at the age of 41.
Authorities confirmed that Giuffre passed away at her farm in Neergabby, a rural area near Perth, Western Australia.
Emergency services responded to the property on Wednesday night, but despite their efforts, Giuffre was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have stated that while the death remains under investigation by major crime detectives, early indications suggest it is not being treated as suspicious.
A police spokeswoman said, “Police and St. John Western Australia attended and provided emergency first aid. Sadly, the 41-year-old woman was declared deceased at the scene.
The death is being investigated by major crime detectives; early indication is the death is not suspicious.”
Giuffre became widely known for her role in exposing the crimes of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
She alleged that the pair trafficked her to Prince Andrew when she was just 17 years old, claims that the prince has consistently denied.
In 2022, Prince Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre, reportedly paying millions, though he did not admit any wrongdoing.
Her family paid tribute to her in a statement, describing her as a “fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse” and acknowledging the heavy toll that her experiences had taken on her life. “She was the light that lifted so many survivors,” the family said.
“Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.”
Giuffre leaves behind three children, who her family described as “the light of her life.”
Dini von Mueffling, Giuffre’s longtime publicist, expressed heartbreak over her passing, calling her “one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honor to know.”
Von Mueffling added, “Deeply loving, wise, and funny, she was a beacon to other survivors and victims. It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.”
Giuffre’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, also paid tribute, saying, “Her courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring.
The world has lost an amazing human being today. Rest in peace, my sweet angel.”
Born in the United States, Giuffre had been living in Australia for several years. She first emerged as a public figure after the controversial plea deal that saw Epstein serve only 18 months in a Florida jail in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution.
Outraged by the lenient sentence, Giuffre came forward to share her story, becoming a powerful voice for countless survivors of abuse.
She recounted how, as a teenager working at Mar-a-Lago—then owned by Donald Trump—she was approached by Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000 and recruited under the guise of providing massages to Epstein. Giuffre later said she was flown to various locations around the world to meet men at Epstein’s direction, including Prince Andrew.
Her accusations and her persistence in seeking justice became central to renewed legal and public scrutiny of Epstein, Maxwell, and their associates.
Virginia Giuffre’s legacy as a tireless advocate for abuse survivors remains profound, and her loss is being mourned worldwide.
