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Sex trafficking survivor Virginia Giuffre, 41, was found to have taken her own life at her farm in Western Australia as her distraught family shared a statement
The family of Virginia Giuffre - who accused Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew - shared a sad statement in which they praised her as a "fierce warrior" after she took her own life.
The 41-year-old was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, and alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17 - a claim which Prince Andrew has vehemently denied.
The campaigner died by suicide at her farm in Western Australia. Paying tribute to the mum of three, her family said she was "the light that lifted so many survivors" since she became one of the earliest and loudest voices calling for criminal charges against Epstein.
The family said in a statement: “It is with utterly broken hearts we announce Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia. She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking."
Virginia, raised in Florida, was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein as a teen. The abuse lasted three years from 1999 to 2003. He was eventually found unresponsive in his jail cell in New York more than 15 years later before he could stand trial.
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Christopher Bucktin
Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre's life and fight as story of pain ends in tragedy
Born Virginia Louise Roberts in 1983 in Sacramento, California, she endured a childhood marred by abuse and instability.
She has spoken openly about being sexually abused by a man trusted by her family at a young age. That early trauma set her on a dangerous path: by her early teens, she had run away from home multiple times and entered the foster care system, where her vulnerability only deepened.
At 16, while working as a locker room attendant at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, her life took another tragic turn.
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Antony Clements-Thrower
New details emerge about Prince Andrew accuser's final moments
New details have emerged about Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre's final moments before she was found dead last night.
A spokesperson for the Western Australia Police Force has now revealed some of the preliminary findings of their investigation, which give light into Ms Giuffre's final hours.
Crews tried to administer lifesaving emergency first aid shortly after arriving at her home near Neergabby.
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Christopher Bucktin
'Virginia Giuffre is dead – the powerful men she accused shamelessly breathe easier now'
"Virginia Giuffre is gone. Dead by suicide. And the men she spent two decades trying to hold accountable are still alive, still free - and tonight, many of them will sleep easier than they have in years.
"More than 14 years ago, she stood up and accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her as a teenager, after she was allegedly loaned out to him by superstar of evil Jeffrey Epstein.
"It was the moment that changed everything.
"It turned Virginia from a victim of men to a lightning rod. And it marked the beginning of a story that has dominated my career ever since."
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Antony Clements-Thrower
How long had Virginia Giuffre lived Down Under?
Ms Giuffre had been living in Australia for 20 years after fleeing the US to start her life afresh.
She swapped Sacramento, California, for the town of Neergabby, Western Australia, some 80km from Perth, which has a population of around 300.
She shared the $1.3million (£620,000) farmhouse she was found dead in with her husband, Robert, who she met in Thailand, and their three children.
Recent reports had suggested the couple had recently split after 22 years of marriage.
Antony Clements-Thrower
Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre's last social media posts days before death
Sex trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre's final posts on social media included a link to a sad break up song and a post in which she lamented the “worst start to a new year” before her death.
The 41-year-old was found dead at her farm in Neergabby, Western Australia, last night as her family confirmed she took her own life. Now it has been revealed her final posts on her social media account included a link to a song by Gotye.
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Antony Clements-Thrower
'The world has lost an amazing human being today'
Several people have reacted with sadness to this morning's news.
Among them was Sigrid McCawley, an attorney for Virginia Giuffre, said in a statement, "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."
Antony Clements-Thrower
Virginia Giuffre's death being investigated by Australian police
Western Australia Police Force said they received reports of an unresponsive woman at a property in the Perth suburb of Neergabby on Friday night.
A spokesman 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.”
Antony Clements-Thrower
How did Virginia Giuffre's sex trafficking nightmare start?
Virginia Giuffre said she was a teenage spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago when she was approached in 2000 by Epstein's girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Giuffre said Maxwell hired her as a masseuse for Epstein, but the couple effectively made her a sexual servant, pressuring her into gratifying not only Epstein but his friends and associates.
Antony Clements-Thrower
Family of Jeffrey Epstein survivor's poignant tribute in FULL
Virginia Giuffre - who accused Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew of sexually exploiting her as a teenager - has been described as a "fierce warrior" by her family.
The campaigner died by suicide aged 41 at her farm in Neergabby, Western Australia. Paying tribute to the mum of three, her family said she was "the light that lifted so many survivors".
Read more here
KEY EVENT
Heartbreaking final picture of sex abuse survivor emerges
The family of Virgina Giuffre have shared a sad final photo sex trafficking survivor who took her own life overnight.
Ms Giuffre was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17, a claim which Andrew has vehemently denied. Her heartbroken relatives called her "a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse", after she took her life at her farm in Neergabby, Western Australia.
Her brother, Danny Wilson, shared a sweet final photo of Ms Giuffre after news of the tragedy was broken.
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