When Marina Lacerda told the world that Jeffrey Epstein had sexually abused her when she was 14, the threats began almost immediately.
In September, she and other accusers appeared at a news conference pressing for the release of the Epstein files. "She’ll be unalived," a stranger wrote under a YouTube video of a news report about Lacerda that day. "She really should’ve stayed quiet. RIP."
The harassment intensified when Lacerda’s name appeared at least 46 times in unredacted Justice Department documents months later. Online, she was called a liar and a prostitute who deserved what happened to her.
Today, Lacerda lives with her daughter in a gated community and sleeps with a handgun on her nightstand. "I’m scared that somebody’s going to come in the house,” she said. "I'm just paranoid all the time."
Reuters identified 23 Epstein accusers who’ve faced threats, harassment and intimidation by trolls, haters and other foes – some after speaking publicly about their abuse, others after their identities were exposed in the Justice Department’s Epstein files.
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