THE heartbroken family of Virginia Giuffre have described her as a “fierce warrior” in their full statement following her death.
The mum-of-three, who was sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein as a teenager, died of suicide at her home in Western Australia last night.
In a touching tribute, the 41-year-old’s family said: “Giuffre lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
“Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. 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.”
The statement then spoke about how becoming a mum for the first time made Virginia realise how important her voice was.
Virginia was known as one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17.
In a lawsuit made by Virginia she claimed she had sex with Andrew on three occasions – a claim the duke has always denied.
In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight
Virginia Giuffre's family
The family went on to say: “The light of her life were her children Christian, Noah, and Emily.
“It was when she held her newborn daughter in her arms that Virginia realised 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.
“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. We know that she is with the angels.”
On Saturday, Virginia’s brother Danny Wilson also paid tribute to his sister on Facebook with a photo of the pair and another man.
Virginia is seen smiling at the camera with her arm around her brother.
The other man is believed to be her older brother Sky.
Police confirmed emergency services were called to reports of an unresponsive woman at a property in the Perth suburb of Neergabby on Friday night.
Initial investigations are not treating her death as suspicious.
It comes just weeks after Virginia, who was believed to have separated from her husband, was treated in an Australian hospital following a bus crash.
Virginia sparked alarm last month after posting a bruised snap from her hospital bed, claiming she had just “four days to live”.
But the story took a twist when Western Australian Police described the crash as minor and said no major injuries were reported.
She later claimed the incident was blown out of proportion due to a misunderstanding.
Her father Sky Roberts clarified: “Doctors told Virginia she would have died within four days had she not received medical treatment.”
It was also revealed that Virginia was fighting a separate court case from her family.
Who was Virginia Giuffre?
VIRGINIA Roberts - later Virginia Giuffre, 41, was an American-Australian campaigner and a prominent victim of the sex trafficking ring of Jeffrey Epstein.
She made claims against Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, as well as Brit socialite Ghislaine Maxwell – Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-lover.
Giuffre alleged in court documents that she was procured by Maxwell, 63, the daughter of disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell, as a teenage “sex slave” for Epstein.
She released a manuscript just hours before Epstein’s death, which added to more than 2,000 documents of a lawsuit pending against the former financier and his pals.
The legal documents were released in a defamation case involving Giuffre, who has claimed in court documents that Prince Andrew slept with her three times.
In 2019, Virginia Roberts claimed that she had sex with Prince Andrew in a toilet when she was 17, after a night where he had allegedly been plying her with vodka in a posh London club.
On February 15, 2022, it was announced that Prince Andrew settled the lawsuit – sparing him a humiliating court battle.
She had been charged with breaching a family violence restraining order in Ocean Reef, near Perth, on February 2, Western AustraliaCourts said.
Virginia’s case was first heard in Joondalup Magistrates’ Court in northern Perth on March 14, where she did not enter a plea.
The matter was adjourned to June 11 for a plea hearing, according to Western Australia Courts.
American-born Virginia lived in Australia for years, becoming an advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in the prolonged downfall of disgraced paedophile financier Epstein.
The mum, who leaves behind three children, sued Prince Andrew in 2021, claiming she was trafficked and forced to have sex with the Duke on three occasions when she was a teen.
It was the first time she had brought action against him after going public with the allegations in 2011.
She claimed she was trafficked and forced to have sex with the Andrew for the first time at Maxwell’s house in London after a night out at the club Tramp.
Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors
Virginia Giuffre's family
Virginia also claimed she was forced to have sex with the Duke on at least two further occasions by Maxwell and Epstein.
Her legal team argued she was a “frightened, vulnerable child with no one there to protect her” when she was allegedly abused by Andrew, saying “no person, whether President or Prince, is above the law“.
She claimed she feared for her life when she was allegedly forced to have sex with Andrew, who is accused of having been aware of her age and status as a “sex-trafficking victim”.
The Duke has ignored repeated calls to tell US authorities what he knows about paedo Epstein’s criminal behaviour.
In his notorious Newsnight interview five years ago, Andrew vowed to help the probe into Epstein and his warped madam Maxwell.
But the royal has remained silent – and claimed he knew nothing of Epstein’s vile crimes despite their friendship.
Andrew has denied any wrongdoing and has denied allegations made against him.
Epstein took his own life in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with him to sexually abuse minors.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123
