Marina Lacerda is a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse who was previously known as "Minor Victim-1" in his 2019 federal indictment. In September 2025, she broke her silence publicly for the first time and became a vocal advocate for the release of the "Epstein Files".
Role in the Epstein case and advocacy
- Key witness: Lacerda, a 37-year-old Latina immigrant from Brazil, was considered a key witness whose cooperation with the FBI was crucial in bringing charges against Epstein in 2019.
- Abuse and exploitation: Her abuse began when she was 14 and living in Queens with her family, whom she was working to support. Lacerda was recruited to give "massages" and was subjected to abuse from ages 14 to 17, when she was told she was "too old".
- Advocacy for file release: In September 2025, Lacerda appeared on Capitol Hill with other survivors to demand the full release of the government's files related to Epstein.
• She stated that access to the unredacted files is essential for her and other victims to heal and "put the pieces of my own life back together".
• She also noted that the ongoing stream of headlines triggers PTSD for many survivors and that releasing the files would provide needed transparency and closure.
- Criticism of government handling: Lacerda expressed frustration over the government's handling of the case in 2008, believing that if she had been allowed to speak then, other women would not have been victimized. She also criticized the slow pace of releasing records and politicians downplaying the case as a "hoax".
