Jessica Aber, the former U.S. Attorney for Virginia’s Eastern District, suffered from epilepsy and died in her sleep last weekend, her family said Wednesday.
In a statement, Aber’s family referenced an earlier report from Alexandria, Virginia, police, which stated that detectives had “found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes.” The family added, “We expect more information from the medical examiner in the coming weeks. Our family is in shock and grieving deeply, and we respectfully request privacy as we attempt to navigate through our unspeakable loss.”
Aber, 43, had long experienced seizures related to epilepsy, a neurological disorder that can sometimes be fatal. Police discovered her unresponsive on Saturday morning after responding to a report in Alexandria, just outside Washington, D.C.
Aber was confirmed as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in 2021 after years of service as an assistant U.S. attorney and deputy chief of the criminal division. She resigned on January 20, the day President Donald Trump was inaugurated.
Following news of her passing, the new U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, Erik S. Siebert, described Aber as “unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor” and called her “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.”
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