Police say no foul play is suspected in the death of Jessica Aber, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia who was found dead Saturday in her Alexandria home.
Police were called to the 900 block of Beverley Drive at 9:18 a.m. for a report of an unresponsive woman. Officers arrived and located Aber, 43, dead in the house, Alexandria police said in a news release.
“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 department said in a Monday update.
Aber, who was appointed by President Joe Biden and held the U.S. Attorney post for more than three years, resigned on Jan. 20, inauguration day for President Donald Trump.
Aber began her federal career in 2009 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, prosecuting financial fraud, public corruption, violent crime and child exploitation cases.
Aber was nominated to U.S. Attorney by President Biden on Aug. 10, 2021, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Oct. 5, 2021.
Law enforcement officials from across the political spectrum remembered Aber as an “unmatched” leader and prosecutor.
“We are heartbroken beyond words to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague, U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber,” Erik Siebert, current U.S. District Attorney for the Eastern District, said in a news release.
“She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being. We remain in awe of how much she accomplished in her all too brief time in this world,” Siebert wrote. “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.”
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, expressed his condolences over Aber’s death on social media Saturday afternoon. The two worked together through Miyares’ “Ceasefire Virginia,” an initiative to combat gun crime through aggressive prosecution and effective community prevention.
“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 post on X. “Our thoughts and our prayers are with her family this week.”
Kari Pugh is digital editor at InsideNoVa.com. Reach her at [email protected]
