Marina Lacerda, a key witness in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case, has finally spoken up. This is the first time she has spoken publicly since her testimony helped put the infamous billionaire in jail. Lacerda, who is now 37, told ABC News that the Trump administration should make the full Epstein files public. She feels this is important for victims and the American people.
Lacerda, who was called “Minor-Victim 1” in the indictment, told Good Morning America, “I want them to give all the victims transparency, right, to what happened and release these files.” “Not just for the victims, but for the people of the United States.”
Marina Lacerda, once known as 'Minor-Victim 1' in Jeffrey Epstein’s indictment, breaks her silence, telling @linseydavis she suffered years of abuse, and calls for transparency in the case.
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 3, 2025
Watch the interview TONIGHT on @abcnewslive PRIME. pic.twitter.com/JHTg0Pzmv9
14 years old when they were trafficked
Lacerda, whose family came to the U.S. from Brazil, first met Epstein when she was 14 years old in 2002. A friend introduced her to him and said that working with him would be a good way to make money to support her family. Epstein sexually attacked her when she initially went to his New York house for what she thought was a massage.
Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda: "The worst part is that the government is still in possession right now of documents and information that could help me remember and get over all of this maybe, and help me heal. They have documents with my name on them that were confiscated from… pic.twitter.com/L1MdTtPhbq
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 3, 2025
Lacerda talked about how the interactions were manipulative, saying, “It starts somewhere, but then it ends.” You have to have sex with them, whether you want to or not. She quickly joined a bigger group of young women whom Epstein had recruited. “His residence was like a revolving door. “There were always girls,” Lacerda claimed, guessing that Epstein saw up to ten ladies every day.
What a Survivor Does
As Lacerda got older, Epstein lost interest in her. She remarked, “He didn’t want me anymore” when she was about 17. He just said, “You’re too old.” Then, Lacerda had to find additional young women to work for him.
Eventually, the police heard about her story. The FBI first got in touch with her in 2008, but Epstein got a contentious arrangement not to prosecute her before she could testify. The FBI got in touch with her again in 2019, eleven years later, after New York prosecutors reopened the investigation. Her evidence as a witness played a big role in Epstein’s eventual conviction.