Jessica Aber, Former U.S. Attorney For Virginia, Dies Suddenly At 43

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Jessica D. Aber, former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has died. She was 43 years old.

According to the Alexandria Police Department, on Saturday morning at 9:18 a.m., officers responded to Beverly Drive after the report of an unresponsive woman. Officers located a deceased woman, police said. Following notification of family members, police confirmed the woman as Aber.

"As a matter of protocol, an investigation is underway surrounding the circumstances of her death," police said. "The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia will determine the cause and matter of death."

She died just two months after resigning from her position, at the time President Donald Trump was inaugurated.

U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert released a statement regarding Aber's passing: "We are heartbroken beyond words to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague, U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber. She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being."

He added: "We remain in awe of how much she accomplished in her all too brief time in this world. 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. Jess was a proud Virginian from high school through college and throughout her career. She loved EDVA and EDVA loved her back. We remain committed to her life’s work, a commitment to seeking justice, as she would have wanted."

Aber announced that she was resigning as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, effective January 20, 2025, at 11:59 pm, after serving in the role for more than three years, according to the EDVA.

"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," she said 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 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."

According to the EDVA, after working in private practice, Aber began her service in EDVA in 2009 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuting financial fraud, public corruption, violent crime, and child exploitation cases. From 2015 to 2016, she served on a detail assignment as counsel to the assistant attorney general for the criminal division of the Department of Justice. From 2016 until becoming U.S. Attorney, Aber served as the deputy chief of the criminal division for EDVA.

Aber was nominated by President Joe Biden on Aug. 10, 2021, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Oct. 5, 2021, the EDVA said.