Nine questions after Virginia Giuffre’s suicide

Virginia Giuffre took her own life on Friday, but her death has raised a number of questions about her claims against Prince Andrew, her multi million-dollar estate, and her mysterious marriage breakdown.

Virginia Giuffre, 41, was the most prominent and outspoken victim of wealthy pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell before she took her own life at a remote farmhouse on Friday.

However, her death has raised a number of questions around her claims against Prince Andrew, what will happen to her fortune, and why her marriage broke down.

Virginia Giuffre took her own life on Friday. Picture: Instagram

WHAT IS VIRGINIA GIUFFRE’S STORY?

Giuffre, who was born in california and raised in Florida, shot to prominence when she publicly accused Epstein and Maxwell of grooming her and forcing her to participate in an elaborate sex ring when she was just 16.

She said Epstein abused her, and she was told to perform sex acts on his rich and powerful friends until she escaped in 2002.

Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 while in a New York City jail awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence in a US federal prison after being convicted of child sex trafficking in 2021.

Giuffre had a troubled upbringing before she met Epstein, claiming she was sexually assaulted by a family friend at seven and spending a number of years in foster homes and living on the street.

Virginia Giuffre was trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell as a teenager. Picture: AFP

HOW DID VIRGINIA DIE?

Giuffre took her own life at her rural property in Neergabby, north of Perth, just before 10pm on Friday. Her family confirmed her death was suicide, saying the abuse she suffered at the hands of wealthy pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his assistant Ghislaine Maxwell was “unbearable”.

They 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.”

They explained Giuffre found the strength and courage to speak out about her abuse when she was holding her newborn daughter Emily in her arms, and that her children were the light of her life.

Virginia Giuffre died at her property at Neergabby, WA. Picture: Realestate.com.au

“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,” they continued.

“There are no words that can express the grave loss we feel today with the passing of our sweet Virginia. We know that she is with the angels.”

The matter was referred to the coroner, but it could be years until her cause of death is revealed.

WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN PRINCE ANDREW AND VIRGINIA GIUFFRE?

Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of having sex with her three times, when she was being trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell as a teenager. She alleged the encounters took place in London, Manhattan, and on Epstein’s private Caribbean island.

Prince Andrew has continually denied the allegations and said he has no recollection of meeting her.

HOW MUCH DID ANDREW PAY VIRGINIA?

Giuffre filed a civil claim against Prince Andrew in 2021 over the alleged assaults.

They reached an out-of-court settlement in 2022 for an undisclosed amount. However, the figure – estimated to be as high as $25m – could become public knowledge if there’s a legal battle over her estate.

Prince Andrew is pictured next to Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell. Picture: AFP

Giuffre was separated from her husband Robert Giuffre when she died but they were still married and he still cares for their children, two of whom are minors. All her children were born in Australia. The rest of her family live in the US, where she held citizenship.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WITH HER CAR ACCIDENT?

In late March, Giuffre wrote on social media that she had been hospitalised with kidney issues following a collision with a school bus at 100km/h.

She uploaded a selfie from her hospital bed which showed heavy bruising on her face. She told her followers that she only had four days to live, but that she was “ready to go”.

She wrote: “I’ve gone into kidney renal failure, they’ve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology. I’m ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes.”

Virginia Giuffre, Jeffrey Epstein's main accuser, said she has days left to live after being hit by a school bus. Picture: Instagram

Police only had a record of a minor bus accident that resulted in $2000 worth of damage and no injuries. Everyone else in the collision appeared unscathed.

Her brother Sky Roberts then claimed Ms Giuffre was involved in another incident in January. He says that event resulted in a cracked sternum and perforated eye, and almost killed her.

He suggested she may have been hospitalised over that incident, rather than the car crash. No individuals were charged with any wrongdoing in relation to either incident.

WHY DID VIRGINIA SPLIT WITH HER HUSBAND?

Virginia and Robert Giuffre met in Thailand in the early 2000s, moved to Australia and had three children. She often credited him as the reason she was able to escape Epstein’s pedophile ring.

They were married for more than two decades before they quietly split in about 2023.

While the cause of the separation is unknown, he later filed a family violence order against her.

Earlier this year, she sent him a text and was charged with breaching that order. Robert Giuffre was not accused of any wrongdoing.

Giuffre had been living at her farm while her husband and children stayed in the family home in Ocean Reefs, in Perth’s outer suburbs.

Virginia Giuffre is pictured with her husband, Robert Giuffre. Picture: Instagram

CAN ANDREW MAKE A COMEBACK?

Prince Andrew was stripped of his titles and roles by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, just prior to the settlement with Giuffre in 2022.

His brother King Charles has also tried to kick him out of the Royal Lodge in Windsor, taken away his annual cash handout, and refused to pay for his private security.

Sources told The Sun that Prince Andrew had wanted to paint Giuffre as an unreliable witness amid the confusion over her car crash. They said he was hopeful he could make his way back into public life, but her suicide has quashed any possibility.

WILL ANDREW HONOUR HIS PLEDGE?

As part of his settlement with Giuffre, Prince Andrew “pledged to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking and by supporting its victims”.

He did not keep that pledge, but he could now try to redeem himself by following through on his pledge. Failure to do so could further harm his image.

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is pictured with US financier and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Picture: AFP

WILL INFAMOUS PHOTO HAUNT PRINCE ANDREW?

Prince Andrew has continually denied having sex with Giuffre and he has no recollection of meeting her. But there is a famous photo which shows him with his arm around teenage Giuffre, as Maxwell smiles in the background.

The photograph is said to have been taken by Epstein, at Maxwell’s home in London in 2001.

The prince previously told the BBC that he had no recollection of meeting Giuffre. He and Maxwell both claim the photo was doctored.

Maxwell is in prison after being found guilty of child sex trafficking.

Originally published as Nine questions after Virginia Giuffre’s suicide