Virginia Giuffre's family issues new tribute after Andrew accuser died by suicide & launch ‘public memorial'
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VIRGINIA Giuffre's family has paid a touching tribute as part of a GoFundMe appeal to start a public memorial.
It comes just days after Giuffre was tragically found dead at her remote farmhouse, an hour north of Perth, on April 25 after years of torment.
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Virginia Giuffre, with a photo of herself as a teen, when she says she was abused by Jeffrey Epstein
Credit: Rex
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Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell
Credit: AFP
In a statement, the family said: "Dear Friends, Family, Survivors, and Supporters.
"First and foremost, thank you for the outpouring of love and support for our beloved Virginia.
"We know Virginia was not just a bright light to us but to many. The lives she touched, the strength, and the fight she has given us will live with us always.
"Though our family and many are experiencing an immeasurable sense of grief, we know that this will make us stronger— that is what Virginia would have wanted.
"With that, we think it is imperative that we find a way to leave her mark of legacy.
"Virginia, through her fight and testimony, was able to amass settlements, but unfortunately, through this tragedy, as many of you may know, funds and estates can take years to settle.
"While her estate is being settled in Australia, her family in America is dedicated to memorializing and celebrating her spirit.
"It is our intention with this fund that we create a public memorial not just for family but for survivors and supporters from all over to visit and share space with Virginia.
"She deserves to have a permanent mark in this world that demonstrates her lasting impact.
"Virginia was adamant about seeing real change in active legislation. One of the laws she was driven to change was the Statute of Limitations for sexual abuse.
'Statute of Limitations is a convenient law for perpetrators.'
Virginia Roberts.
"It takes years for survivors to summon the courage to come forward and express their trauma.
"The Statute often expires before, stripping them of their voice and right to pursue justice. So many survivors don't come forward because of this.
"We aim to drive that pursuit of justice and propose new legislation for change.
"It was Virginia's life's purpose to continue the fight and break the chains of silence! We will continue that mission with all our heart and soul. Together."
The tragic tributes come after Giuffre's sudden death in April, which opened a Pandora's Box of unanswered questions.
She was the most prominent victim of the notorious Epstein was found dead by police before her family revealed she had died by suicide.
More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
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Haunting memories Thirteen years on, Pearl is still traumatised by the memory of seeing the five children's charred bodies laid out in a row in the street outside her home as firefighters tried in vain to save them. Now 78 and retired, she was still living next door to where the tragedy unfolded when The Sun revisited the scene of the killings. Breaking her silence on the horrific fire, she says: 'I'll never get the sight of them lying there out of my head." She shared heartbreaking details about the night of the fire but also offered insight into the extraordinary lengths Philpott had gone to in order to ensure he emerged as a hero. She added: 'I was in my garden the day before the fire and Philpott came home with two sets of ladders. 'He initially placed them against my wall at the back, then moved them off and positioned them very carefully underneath the two upstairs windows at the rear of his house. They were the children's bedrooms. 12 New homes were built on the street after the Philpott home was demolished in September 2013 Credit: Roland Leon 12 Philpott and Mairead appearing on This Morning in 2006 Credit: Rex 12 The landing of the house in Derby after the fire where six children died Credit: Handout 'As soon as I saw those two ladders leaning up against our wall, I knew the crafty sod was up to something, but never in a million years would I have worked out the evil plan he had in mind. 'I knew he hadn't brought the ladders home to do any DIY or a spot of house maintenance because he was useless and lazy. I'd never seen any ladders at his property before. 'As soon as I became aware their house was on fire, it became clear to me what his purpose with the ladders had been. He'd planned to use them to climb up to their windows and rescue them so he could play the hero. 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