BREAKING: Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre dead in apparent suicide in Australia

"It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia," Guiffre's family said in a statement on her passing. "She 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. In the end, the toll of the abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.

Guiffre, 41, had also accused Prince Andrew of rape and that case was settled. She died in Neergabby, Australia and leaves behind three children. After she spoke out against Epstein, others joined suit, saying that they too had been abused by the Manhattan mogul.

It was Guiffre's testimony that led to the conviction of Epstein gal pal Ghislaine Maxwell after Epstein died allegedly by suicide while awaiting trial in a New York jail. Originally from Florida, Giuffre experienced abuse at the hands of a family friend and was then "groomed" by Maxwell for use by Epstein and his associates.

Giuffre and her husband moved to Australia ahead of Epstein's arrest in 2019. The lawsuit with Prince Andrew was settled in 2022. She had accused him of raping her when she was 17-years-old and said that Epstein had arranged their meetings.

The amount that Prince Andrew was made to pay Giuffre was undisclosed. Prince Andrew said at the time he'd give a large donation to a charity of Giuffre's choice. Prince Andrew did not stipulate to any of the allegations Giuffre brought against him.

Prince Andrew at the time said said it was "known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years," and that he "regrets his association with Epstein and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others." He was stripped of his royal and miltary titles.

When a portion of the Epstein documents were released by the Trump administration in Janaury 2024, depositions of Giuffre were made public. Details oher testimony regarding encounters with Epstein and his alleged clients were revealed, along with those from another Epstein victim Johanna Sjoberg.