Jessica Aber, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was found dead on March 22, 2025. She was 43 years old. Just two months prior to her sudden death, Aber resigned from her position shortly before Donald Trump was inaugurated.
“I’ve had the privilege of spending my career as a prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia working alongside talented, hard-working public servants who manage matters affecting citizens here and across the world,” Aber said in a statement at the time. “Concluding my service to the District as its U.S. Attorney has been an honor beyond measure. I am deeply grateful to Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and to President [Joe] Biden for the opportunity to lead this office, and to Attorney General Garland for his steadfast leadership. I am proud of the work we have done with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to enforce the law and build community trust.”
Below, learn more about Aber, her career, and her death.
Former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, 43, was found dead Saturday morning, in Alexandria, Va.
Police said an investigation is underway surrounding the circumstances of her death. pic.twitter.com/mqdXYgPvUR
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) March 23, 2025
Who Is Jessica Aber?
Aber was a lawyer and former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, a position she served from 2021 to 2025.
The Walnut Creek, California, native started her career as a law clerk for former Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in 2006. She worked her way up to become the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for the Eastern District of Virginia in 2016, a position she held until she became the attorney in 2021.
What Happened to Jessica Aber?
On March 22, 2025, the Alexandria Police Department of Virginia discovered Aber dead in her home after responding to a report of an unresponsive woman in the 900 block of Beverly Drive that morning.
The current U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Erik S. Siebert, reacted to Aber’s death in a statement, which read, “Her professionalism, grace, and legal acumen set the standard. Though we are devastated by this loss, each of us in the Eastern District of Virginia will look to her example and endeavor to live up to that standard,” per USA Today.
Jessica Aber’s Cause of Death
Aber’s cause of death was disclosed in August 2025. The State Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that she suffered “sudden unexpected death in epilepsy,” according to The Virginian-Pilot.
On March 25, police shared an update, writing on Facebook, “While the investigation into the death of Ms. Jessica Aber is ongoing, at this time, detectives have found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes.”
“The investigation is ongoing, and the case will remain open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) returns a final ruling on the cause and manner of death,” police added in the news release.
A friend of Aber’s family told NBC News that police believe she died due to a long-standing medical issue.
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