The Biden-appointed U.S. attorney, who resigned on the day that Trump was sworn in again, was found dead at the age of 43 on Saturday, March 22

U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, speaks with reporters during a news conference at the Department of Justice, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. Photo: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Jessica Aber’s loved ones have shared new details on what may have led to her sudden death.

The family of the former federal prosecutor released a statement on Wednesday, March 26, four days after she was found dead in a home in Alexandria, Va. She was 43.

“It is with tremendous sorrow that we acknowledge the sudden passing of our beloved Jessica (Jess) Aber, who died in her sleep on Saturday, March 22,” read the family’s statement, which was obtained by several outlets.

The statement continued: “Jess suffered from epilepsy and epileptic seizures for many years and on Tuesday, March 25, Alexandria (Virginia) Police said in a statement that they believe her death was the result of natural causes.”

The Alexandria Police Department announced on March 22 that officers found Aber at a home in the 900 block of Beverly Drive after responding to a report of an unresponsive woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

On March 25, the APD shared an update, writing on Facebook, “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 investigation is ongoing, and the case will remain open until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) returns a final ruling on the cause and manner of death,” police added in the news release.

In the family’s statement on March 25, loved ones asked for space to grieve in the meantime.

“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,” the statement concluded.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland delivers remarks alongside Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite and U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber during a meeting on June 14, 2023.Kevin Dietsch/Getty

After receiving her law degree from William & Mary Law School in 2006, Aber began her career at the Department of Justice in 2009 as an assistant U.S. attorney. She worked on cases involving financial fraud, public corruption, violent crime and child exploitation, and later served as the deputy chief of the criminal division for the Eastern District of Virginia, per her DOJ bio.

Aber was nominated by President Joe Biden as the U.S. attorney for the EDVA in August 2021 and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.

She resigned from her position on Jan. 20, 2025, the same day Donald Trump took office for his second term as president.

In her final post on X, Aber shared the announcement of her resignation, adding, “Serving as U.S. Attorney has been an honor. EDVA is full of dedicated, extraordinary public servants. Thanks to everyone who kept up with EDVA’s fantastic work on X during my tenure.”

In a statement on X, Erik Siebert, the new U.S. attorney for the EDVA, said the office is “heartbroken beyond words.”

“She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being,” he said of Aber.

“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,” added Siebert. “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.”

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also expressed her condolences in a statement posted on the DOJ website.

“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,” she wrote.