The specific details of each woman’s story may vary, but a terrifying and traumatic thread runs through all of them. They were manipulated, trapped, sexually assaulted and in many cases sexually trafficked by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in a New York City prison cell a year ago rather than face the devastating criminal charges against him in court.
On the one-year anniversary of his death, for which controversy still swirls over whether he actually did commit suicide or was murdered to silence his knowledge about other powerful men—like Prince Andrew– participating in his sex crimes, Lifetime begins airing a four-part documentary series called “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein.”
What sets it apart from other recent projects is that this one is told through the lens of the women that were victimized by Epstein at his luxurious estates in Palm Beach, New Mexico, a private island he owned in the Caribbean and at his multimillion dollar Manhattan townhouse.
The crimes began several decades ago, yet some of the survivors have told their stories for the first time only recently, buoyed by the courage of other women that came forward with sordid tales of sexual depravity.
Another timely aspect is that producers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern were able to revise the series when Epstein’s girlfriend and apparent enabler, Ghislaine Maxwell, was arrested in July at her secluded home in New Hampshire on federal charges of sex trafficking and perjury. She has pleaded not guilty, was denied bail and is in prison until a trial is scheduled to begin next summer.
Lock her up, indeed.
Because the women who survived Epstein’s assaults never got the closure of confronting him in a court of law, although a sympathetic judge allowed them to speak their minds in an unprecedented court hearing after his death last year, they have taken solace in the fact that Maxwell may face justice for aiding and abetting Epstein in procuring them as his sex slaves.
It should also be noted that many of them were underage at the time.
Here’s more about each of those survivors who appear in the Lifetime series and tell their powerful but painful stories:
Courtney Wild– In the summer between 8th and 9th grade Courtney, who desperately needed money, was recruited into Epstein’s web by a friend and kept returning for abuse to help keep a roof over her family’s head. She was spurred to legal action against Epstein when the FBI dropped victims’ files on her doorstep— she had no idea how large the ring was and decided to fight.
Virginia Roberts Guiffre- met Ghislaine Maxwell at the spa at Mar-A-Lago at sixteen. Ghislaine promised massage therapy training and world travel— but instead Virginia was sucked into a life of abuse and sexual servitude until she escaped years later. Since 2011, she has led the charge against Epstein in the courtroom, and as a voice in the media for many of the survivors.
Jena- Lisa Jones– Was a fourteen-year-old from the poor part of West Palm Beach, her Mom was in jail when she first met Jeffrey Epstein. She was at a party when some girls convinced her and a friend to get dressed up and go to Epstein – where she was assaulted. She had know idea who he was, or how vast his abuse was, until she saw a clickbait photo of him with Clinton in 2017.
Kiki Doe– Was a model in NYC whose agency had dropped her at 19. A beautiful woman approached Kiki at her hostessing job, and told her about a client who was rich and connected. All Kiki would have to do is give him a massage. But of course it was much more, and instead of career connections, Epstein assaulted Kiki, and she recalls him gleefully enjoying her terror.
Marijke Chartouni– Was a model for Epstein’s infamous co-conspirator, Jean Luc Brunel’s agency. After being dropped from her agency and desperate for work, her friend invited her to meet the man with “the biggest townhouse in Manhattan.” She was assaulted by her friend— with Jeffrey calling the shots and participating himself.
Teresa Helms– Met Sarah Kellen in Los Angeles. Sarah had grown too old for her role and was looking for a replacement. Teresa was flown to New York and assaulted by Epstein during her “job interview.”
Chauntae Davies– Was introduced to Ghislaine Maxwell by her mentor in massage and healing arts, and Maxwell who promptly flew her from Los Angeles to the Palm Beach mansion. That very first trip she experienced abuse at the hands of Epstein – but her previous experience with sexual abuse had numbed her to red flags and normal care. She continued to work for, and be raped by, Epstein for years.
Rachel Benavidez– Rachel was an up-and-coming masseuse in Santa Fe when she was given the opportunity to work for a private client at Zorro Ranch— the biggest residence in the state. She faced years of degrading abuse at Epstein hands.
(“Surviving Jeffrey Epstein” airs Aug. 9-10 at 8 and 9 p.m. PT/ET on Lifetime.)
