Authorities in Alexandria are actively investigating the unexpected death of 43-year-old Jessica Aber, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Police responded to a call reporting an unresponsive woman at a residence around 9 a.m. Saturday and found Aber deceased inside the home.
The identity of the caller has not been made public, nor has it been confirmed whether Aber lived at the property where she was discovered. Officials say the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death.
The loss of Jessica Aber, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, is deeply tragic. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family and friends during this profoundly difficult time.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) March 23, 2025
While the Alexandria Police Department has not released further details, a person familiar with Aber’s family told Fox News that she had a chronic medical condition. Law enforcement sources reportedly believe her death may be linked to that issue, though no conclusion has been formally released.
Aber stepped down from her post in January after serving as U.S. Attorney since 2021. She had been nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed unanimously by the Senate. Her resignation coincided with President Donald Trump’s return to office.
During her tenure, Aber oversaw prosecutions in high-profile cases. She brought charges against a former CIA analyst for leaking top secret documents concerning Israeli military operations. She also led the case against two Virginia businessmen accused of sending restricted U.S. technology to Russia, allegedly to evade sanctions.
In another major development under her leadership, Aber’s office secured indictments against Russian nationals involved in what authorities described as a large-scale online money laundering network that supported hackers and cybercrime markets.
Tributes to Aber poured in from across the legal and political spectrum. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares highlighted her involvement in Ceasefire Virginia, a public safety initiative. U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who succeeded her, described Aber as a model of professionalism.
Pam Bondi, the current U.S. Attorney General, also shared condolences, calling her passing a “deeply tragic” loss for the legal community.
Aber had previously worked as an assistant U.S. attorney beginning in 2009 and served in the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division during the Obama administration.
