Tragic loss: US ex-federal prosecutor found dead in Virginia

A former federal prosecutor, Jessica Aber, was found dead at a residence in Alexandria, Virginia on March 22 morning.

According to authorities, officers from the Alexandria Police Department were dispatched to the home at 9:18 a.m. Eastern Time following a report of an unresponsive woman, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Upon arrival, police discovered Aber, 43, who served as the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, deceased at the scene. It remains unclear whether the residence belonged to Aber or who placed the call to authorities.

The Virginia medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death. At this time, no further details have been released. Alexandria police stated, as a matter of protocol, an investigation is underway surrounding the circumstances of her death. 

Aber was nominated by President Joe Biden in August 2021 for the position of US Attorney, with her confirmation passing unanimously through the Senate. She held the role for approximately three years before resigning in January, as President Donald Trump began his second term. 

Her successor, Erik Siebert, the current US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, expressed his grief in a statement: "We are heartbroken beyond words to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague, US Attorney Jessica Aber. 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." 

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares also paid tribute to Aber’s legacy on social media, highlighting her work with Ceasefire Virginia, a statewide initiative launched in 2022 aimed at tackling 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.

Before joining the Eastern District of Virginia in 2009, Aber worked in private practice. During her tenure at the Department of Justice, she held various roles, including assistant US attorney and deputy chief of the criminal division. 

As US Attorney, she led a staff of around 300 individuals, serving a district of approximately six million residents. Aber was a Virginia native, having completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond before earning her law degree from William & Mary Law School in 2006.

By Naila Huseynova