Jessica Aber, a former US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, was found dead on Saturday morning at a home in Alexandria, Virginia, authorities have confirmed. She was 43.
According to the Alexandria Police Department, officers responded to a call about an unresponsive woman at 9:18 am local time. On arrival, they found Aber deceased at the scene. It remains unclear whether the residence belonged to her or who initially contacted the police. The cause of death will be determined by the Virginia medical examiner’s office.
Police stated that, “as a matter of protocol, an investigation is underway surrounding the circumstances of her death,” the New York Post reported. No further details have been provided at this time.
Who is Jessica Aber ?
Born and raised in Virginia, Aber graduated from the University of Richmond in 2003 and earned her law degree from William & Mary Law School in 2006. She began her legal career as a law clerk for then-magistrate judge M Hannah Lauck and later worked at McGuireWoods LLP before joining the Department of Justice.
A respected figure in the legal community, Aber joined the eastern district of Virginia as an assistant US attorney in 2009, handling cases related to financial fraud, public corruption, violent crime, and child exploitation. She later served as deputy chief of the department’s criminal division before her appointment as US attorney. During her tenure, she oversaw a staff of about 300 people across Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk, and Newport News, serving a district of approximately six million residents.
She was nominated by former President Joe Biden in August 2021 to serve as US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. She led the department for nearly three years before stepping down in January following the start of President Trump’s second term.
Her contributions to the field were widely recognised, including receiving the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service in 2019, as per the department of justice archives.
Her successor, Erik Siebert, said, “We are heartbroken beyond words to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague, US attorney Jessica Aber.”
Virginia attorney general Jason Miyares paid tribute to Aber’s contributions, particularly her work on Ceasefire Virginia, a 2022 initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. “I am saddened to learn of the passing of Jessica Aber, whose career of public service included US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and whose work with Ceasefire Virginia saved more lives than we may ever realize,” Miyares wrote in a social media post.