Who was Virginia Giuffre? Jeffrey Epstein survivor helped spearhead battle in opposition to intercourse trafficker | EUROtoday

Virginia Giuffre, an outspoken survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse, has died by suicide on the age of 41 after troubled years on the coronary heart of a infamous intercourse trafficking ring.

“It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia,” Giuffre’s household stated in a press release supplied to The Independent. “She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.”

Giuffre was a “fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” the assertion continues. “She was the light that lifted so many survivors. Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.”

Giuffre was one of many first individuals to name for legal prices in opposition to Epstein. Giuffre recounted how she was groomed by Ghislaine Maxwell to be sexually abused by Epstein. She additionally accused Epstein of trafficking her to Prince Andrew when she was 17, which the prince has denied.

Here’s what we find out about Giuffre and her combat in opposition to sexual abuse:

Giuffre grew up in Florida, labored at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property

Giuffre, who reported struggling sexual and bodily abuse as a toddler, was born in Sacramento, California and moved together with her dad and mom on the age of 4 to Palm Beach County in Florida, the place her father was a upkeep supervisor at Mar-a-Lago. While a teen, Giuffre acquired a job at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property as a locker room attendant.

Giuffre stated she was recruited as a youngster by Maxwell, a British socialite and Epstein’s affiliate, whereas working there. Giuffre recounted Maxwell approaching her whereas she was studying a therapeutic massage remedy guide, and requested her to change into Epstein’s touring masseuse.

“They seemed like nice people so I trusted them, and I told them I’d had a really hard time in my life up until then — I’d been a runaway, I’d been sexually abused, physically abused,” Giuffre stated in a 2019 interview with The Miami Herald.

“That was the worst thing I could have told them because now they knew how vulnerable I was,” she added.

Giuffre went on to say Maxwell groomed her to be sexually abused by Epstein from 1999 to 2002. She additionally stated that Epstein trafficked her to Prince Andrew and others. Prince Andrew, the youthful brother of King Charles, denied all claims that he assaulted her however resigned from his public duties in 2020 after she went public together with her accusations.

Giuffre sues Epstein and Prince Andrew

In 2009, Giuffre (then recognized solely as Jane Doe) sued Epstein and Maxwell, claiming they recruited her to affix a sex-trafficking ring as a minor beneath the false promise of turning into an expert masseuse.

Giuffre went on to establish herself publicly in 2015.

She then went on to sue Prince Andrew in 2021 accusing him of sexually assaulting her. Giuffre stated Epstein trafficked her to Prince Andrew when she was 17.

Giuffre additionally supplied key data to legislation enforcement that helped prosecutors finally convict Maxwell in 2021, NBC News reviews.

Epstein, 66 on the time, was charged by federal authorities with intercourse trafficking and conspiracy, however was discovered hanged in his cell after his arrest in 2019 in Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center. His loss of life was dominated a suicide.

Prince Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022, stating on the time he hoped to “demonstrate his regret” for his affiliation with Epstein by “supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.”

The settlement helped help Giuffre’s advocacy group, Speak Out, Act, Reclaim. The group is “dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other.”

Health issues following automotive crash

Late final month, Giuffre posted a photograph of herself with a bruised face in a hospital mattress on Instagram, explaining that medical doctors informed her she had “four days to live” as a consequence of kidney failure following a automotive wreck. She was discharged from the hospital six days later.

“This year has been the worst start to a new year. I won’t bore anyone with the details, but I think it important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving 110km as we were slowing for a turn that no matter what your car is made of it might as well be a tin can,” she wrote.

“I’m ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes,” she added. “S*** in one hand and wish in the other & I guarantee it’s still going to be s*** at the end of the day.”

Giuffre had three kids together with her husband, Richard Giuffre.

A spokesperson for Giuffre stated the Instagram submit was made in error.

“On March 24, in rural Western Australia, a school bus hit the car in which she was riding,” the spokesperson stated. “Virginia was banged up and bruised and returned home. Virginia’s condition worsened and she was admitted to the hospital.”

Concerning her Instagram submit, “Virginia thought that she had posted on her private Facebook page,” the spokesperson added.

Giuffre was supposed to seem in court docket on April 9 after being charged with violating a household violence restraining order obtained by her husband, People reported. She allegedly violated the order by calling her husband on February 2.

However, her court docket look was postponed on the request of her legal professional, and a decide granted her an extension till June to enter a plea.

Loved ones react to Giuffre’s loss of life

Giuffre’s household stated she shall be “missed beyond measure.”

“The light of her life were her children Christian, Noah, and Emily,” her household stated in a press release. “It was when she held her newborn daughter in her arms that Virginia realized she had to fight back against those who had abused her and so many others.”

“There are no words that can express the grave loss we feel today with the passing of our sweet Virginia,” the assertion continued. “She was heroic and will always be remembered for her incredible courage and loving spirit. In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.”

Giuffre’s legal professional Sigrid McCawley referred to as the 41-year-old “a dear friend and an incredible champion for other victims.”

Her “courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring,” McCawley stated in a press release supplied to The Independent. “The world has lost an amazing human being today. Rest in peace, my sweet angel.”

Giuffre’s spokesperson Dini von Mueffling stated her shopper was “one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honor to know.”

“Deeply loving, wise, and funny, she was a beacon to other survivors and victims. She adored her children and many animals,” von Mueffling stated. “She was always more concerned with me than with herself. I will miss her beyond words. It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.”

If you might be based mostly within the U.S. and also you or somebody you understand wants psychological well being help proper now, name the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential disaster hotline accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week. If you might be out of the country, you possibly can go to www.befrienders.org to discover a helpline close to you.

If you might be experiencing emotions of misery, or are struggling to manage, you may as well communicate to the Samaritansin confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), electronic mail jo@samaritans.org, or go to the Samaritans web site to search out particulars of your nearest department.