Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of rape, commits suicide

Virginia Giuffre, one of the most powerful voices in the fight against sexual abuse and human trafficking, has died at the age of 41, her family confirmed on Friday.

According to a statement from relatives, she died by suicide on her farm in Neergabby, Western Australia, after a long struggle with the trauma she had experienced.

Ms Giuffre became internationally known after accusing billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell of sex trafficking, claiming she was forced to have sex with Britain's Prince Andrew when she was just 17, allegations which the Prince has categorically denied.

In 2022, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Ms. Giuffre, without admitting guilt or responsibility.

In a moving statement, the family described her as “ a fierce fighter against sexual abuse,” saying “the amount of pain and abuse she had experienced throughout her life became unbearable.” She was a mother of three and a well-known activist, closely associated with the global Me Too movement, inspiring hundreds of other survivors to speak out.

Western Australian Police confirmed they were called to a house in Neergabby on Friday evening, where Giuffre was found unresponsive. A major crime investigation is ongoing, but authorities say initial indications are that the death is "not suspicious."

Her longtime spokesperson and representative, Dini von Mueffling, described her as " one of the most extraordinary human beings I have had the honor of knowing," adding that she "was a beacon for other survivors and victims."

Giuffre had also recently been in a car accident, which she briefly posted about on Instagram three weeks ago. However, police denied that the incident was as serious as some reports had described.

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