Cause of Death Revealed for Former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber, Who Was Found Dead 2 Months After Resigning Under Trump

The official cause of death has been released for Jessica Aber, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who stepped down the same day President Donald Trump began his second term in January.

According to The Virginian-Pilot, the State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Aber, 43, died from “sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.” Jennifer Starkey, the medicolegal administrator for the northern district office in Manassas, confirmed in an email on August 20 that the death was ruled “natural.” However, she declined to share the full autopsy report, citing Virginia’s health record privacy laws.

Aber was found unresponsive at a home in Alexandria, Virginia, on March 22 and pronounced dead at the scene.

Following her death, her family released a statement saying, “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. Jess suffered from epilepsy and epileptic seizures for many years.” The Alexandria Police Department also said detectives found “no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes.”

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes recurring seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Aber had a long career in public service. After earning her law degree from William & Mary in 2006, she joined the Department of Justice in 2009 as an assistant U.S. attorney. She worked on cases involving fraud, public corruption, violent crime, and child exploitation. She later became deputy chief of the criminal division for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA).

In August 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Aber as U.S. attorney for the EDVA, and she was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. She resigned on January 20, 2025, when Trump returned to office. In her final post on X, she wrote: “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.”

After her passing, current U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert called the office “heartbroken beyond words.” He described her as “unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor,” and said her professionalism and grace “set the standard.”

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also issued a statement on the Department of Justice website, saying, “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.”