WEST PALM BEACH, FL — The tragic deaths of two Jeffrey Epstein sexual abuse survivors from drug overdoses in Palm Beach County have fueled questions about the long-term trauma and circumstances surrounding their final moments.
The most recent death was that of Carolyn Andriano, 36, who was found dead in a West Palm Beach hotel room in May 2023 from an accidental overdose. Ms. Andriano was a key figure in the pursuit of justice, providing crucial testimony in 2021 that helped convict Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's confidant.
Andriano's testimony detailed how Epstein began abusing her in 2001 when she was just 14 years old. She later testified that she became dependent on drugs, including "pain pills and cocaine," as a means to cope with and "block out" the trauma inflicted by Epstein.
Andriano is the second known Epstein survivor to die of a fatal overdose in the area. Leigh Skye Patrick, 29, also a survivor of the abuse, died in Palm Beach County from an overdose in May 2017.
While their deaths were officially ruled as overdoses, the cases underscore the devastating and long-lasting effects of the sexual abuse, which long outlives Epstein's death and Maxwell's imprisonment. The intense media scrutiny and enduring emotional pain experienced by survivors have led some to question whether trauma and related factors were the ultimate, more sinister cause of their premature deaths.
Tres Rivers
Independent Journalist
Harp on the Truth