Ghislaine Maxwell, the alleged former madam of the late billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, reportedly believes he was murdered and is terrified that the same thing will happen to her.

“Everyone’s view including Ghislaine’s is Epstein was murdered. She received death threats before she was arrested,” an unnamed friend told The Sun.

This friend, who The Sun described as being “in regular contact with Maxwell at her secret New Hampshire hideaway,” explained that these death threats are what led to her hiring security guards to protect her at her New Hampshire estate prior to her arrest. These threats have also led Maxwell and those close to her to believe that she won’t live to see her trial.

Last week, a judge denied Maxwell bail because she poses a significant flight risk, given her immense wealth and her international connections. Upon hearing the news, Maxwell reportedly burst into tears, as she fears her life is at stake behind bars. The judge also scheduled her trial for next July, meaning the 58 year-old British socialite will remain behind bars until then.

Prosecutors had described Maxwell as an “extreme” flight risk, pointing out that she is worth millions and has a talent for “hiding.” They also explained the danger of her having citizenship in France, which does not extradite its own citizens on criminal charges.

“There is an incredibly strong incentive for the defendant to flee,” prosecutor Alison Moe said, adding that “there’s a real concern here that the defendant could live beyond the reach for extradition for years.”

Maxwell was arrested on July 2 on six charges related to her allegedly grooming young girls for sex with Epstein. If convicted all charges, she is facing 35 years in prison.

The victims of Epstein have been celebrating Maxwell’s arrest, as they have described her as the “mastermind” behind his operation.

“Jeffrey was a sick pedophile, but she was the mastermind,” said Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre. “Put it this way, Epstein was Pinocchio and she was Geppetto. She was pulling the strings, she had his money, he had her contacts – but Ghislaine was much more conniving and smart than Epstein ever was.”