(TJV NEWS)

Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent voices in exposing Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network, has died by suicide at the age of 41, her family confirmed Friday to NBC News.

Giuffre passed away at her farm in Neergabby, Western Australia, where she had lived for several years. In a statement shared with NBC News, her family said, “It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night… She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.”

Virginia Giuffre, who spent years fighting for justice on behalf of Epstein’s victims, was hailed by many survivors for giving them the courage to come forward. According to NBC News, Giuffre provided key information to law enforcement that played a major role in the investigation and eventual conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, as well as other high-profile inquiries conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

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Originally raised in Florida, Giuffre endured abuse early in life, a painful history that led to her experiencing homelessness as a teenager. During that vulnerable period, she encountered Maxwell, who allegedly groomed her to be sexually abused by Epstein between 1999 and 2002. Giuffre also claimed that Epstein trafficked her to several of his powerful associates, including Britain’s Prince Andrew and French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel.

NBC News noted that Giuffre filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew in 2021, accusing him of sexually abusing her when she was 17 years old. Although Andrew has denied the allegations, he settled the lawsuit in 2022 for an undisclosed sum and stepped away from his royal duties amid the scandal.

Giuffre’s testimony extended internationally. NBC News recalled her 2021 appearance in a Paris courtroom, where she testified against Brunel. Afterward, she said, “I wanted Brunel to know that he no longer has the power over me,” emphasizing her commitment to seeking justice for herself and other survivors.

Epstein himself died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of multiple counts of sex trafficking. Brunel, who faced charges of sexual harassment and the rape of a minor, died by suicide in a French jail in 2022.

In recent years, the Epstein case resurfaced during political debates, with NBC News highlighting how the release of Epstein-related documents stirred renewed anxiety among survivors, including Giuffre. The controversy surrounding the release of those files reportedly caused additional distress, according to several victims who spoke to NBC News.

Giuffre’s family and friends remembered her as a relentless advocate and compassionate force for change. Her brother, Danny Wilson, told NBC News that Giuffre “pushed so hard to snuff the evil out” of the world, noting that while she battled physical ailments like renal failure, the emotional toll proved even heavier.

Her attorney, Sigrid McCawley, called Giuffre “a dear friend and an incredible champion for other victims,” while her representative, Dini von Mueffling, added, “Virginia was one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honor to know.”

Speaking to NBC’s “Dateline” years ago, Giuffre had delivered a passionate plea to law enforcement: “Take us serious. We matter.”

Virginia Giuffre is survived by her husband and their three children.