Virginia Giuffre dedicated the bulk of her life to advocating for justice, not only for herself but also for countless other victims of sexual abuse. However, it seems the battles she fought may have ultimately taken an insurmountable toll on her, as revealed by her family.
"The world has bid farewell to a fearless warrior," lamented Virginia's sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE following Virginia's tragic suicide at the age of 41. "Her heartfelt wish was for all survivors to secure justice. That was her essence."
Virginia, a prominent voice among those accusing convicted sex offenders Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, passed away on Thursday, April 24, at a farm in Neergabby, a locale outside Perth, Australia, where she had resided for several years. Her family announced the heartbreaking news the following day.
"We have lost our beloved sister," Amanda said through tears. "Her children have lost their mother, and her mother has lost her cherished daughter." She continued, "This is our reality now. She was a beautiful soul, one of the purest you could ever encounter. But I fear that the immense burden she bore became too heavy for her to carry."
Emergency services responded to a call at a Neergabby residence and discovered a 41-year-old woman in an unresponsive state. Western Australia Police Force media liaison officer Shelby Brady previously confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that emergency first aid was administered, but unfortunately, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities indicated that "early signs" suggested "the death was not suspicious," and Major Crime detectives are currently investigating the case.
Amanda revealed that Virginia's brother, Sky Roberts, was staying with her at the time of her passing.
Earlier in March, Virginia had posted on Instagram that she was battling for her life in the hospital after being involved in a collision with a school bus traveling at over 49 mph. "I've suffered kidney failure," she wrote alongside a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed, her face bruised and battered. "Doctors have given me four days to live. I'm being transferred to a specialist urology hospital."
Shortly thereafter, Virginia came forward with allegations of abuse against her husband of 22 years, Robert Giuffre. In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, she revealed, "I was able to stand up against Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein, who abused and trafficked me. Yet, I couldn't escape the domestic violence within my marriage until recently. After my husband's most recent physical assault, I can no longer remain silent."
Once again, Virginia shared her plight on Instagram, detailing her critical condition and the harrowing circumstances that led her to that point. Her words painted a picture of resilience intertwined with unimaginable pain, ultimately culminating in a heart-wrenching conclusion.
