Former Federal Prosecutor Jessica Aber Dies at 43, Investigation Underway
Jessica Aber, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has died at the age of 43. Her death has prompted an active investigation.
According to the Alexandria Police Department, officers responded to a call on the morning of March 22, 2025, regarding an unresponsive woman in the 900 block of Beverley Drive. Upon arrival, they confirmed Aber was deceased at the scene. Her identity was made public after notifying her family.
Wearing purple for #PurpleThursday from the Richmond USAO. DV victims have EDVA’s support. Help is available: 1-800-799-SAFE.
Together we can break the cycle.#DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth pic.twitter.com/kV09JfDc8W— U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber (@USAttyAber) October 19, 2023
Authorities say the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia will determine the official cause and manner of death, as is standard in such cases.
Aber held one of the most prominent legal roles in the state, serving as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA). The office oversees all federal prosecutions and civil litigation on behalf of the U.S. in a jurisdiction that spans more than six million residents.
APD Statement regarding Beverley Drive Death Investigation pic.twitter.com/86iNsUzQyO
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) March 22, 2025
Appointed by President Joe Biden on August 10, 2021, and confirmed by the Senate on October 5, Aber officially took office on October 7. She led a team of about 300 attorneys and staff across four divisions in Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk, and Newport News.
Her career in federal service began in 2009 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, where she prosecuted cases involving public corruption, violent crime, financial fraud, and child exploitation. She later served as counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Criminal Division and became Deputy Chief of EDVA’s Criminal Division.
Aber’s accomplishments were widely recognized, including receiving the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service in 2019.
She earned her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from the University of Richmond in 2003 and completed her law degree at William & Mary Law School in 2006.
After more than three years as U.S. Attorney, Aber stepped down on January 20, 2025. In her farewell post on social media, 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.”
Following the news of her death, tributes poured in.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares shared his condolences, stating:
“I am saddened to learn of the passing of Jessica Aber, whose career of public service included U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and whose work with Ceasefire Virginia saved more lives than we may ever realize. Our thoughts and our prayers are with her family this week.”
U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert also honored Aber in a heartfelt message:
“We are heartbroken beyond words to learn of the passing of our friend and former colleague, U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber. She was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being.”
He continued, “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.”
“Jess was a proud Virginian—from high school through college and throughout her career. She loved EDVA, and EDVA loved her back. We remain committed to her life’s work, a commitment to seeking justice, as she would have wanted.”
Virginia Community Grieves Series of Tragic Losses
Aber’s passing comes during a somber time in Virginia. Just a month earlier, two Virginia Beach police officers were killed during a late-night traffic stop.
On February 21, 2025, around 11:27 p.m., Officers Cameron Girvin, 25, and Christopher Reese, 30, attempted to pull over a blue Hyundai Sonata for an expired license plate. The driver initially refused to stop, eventually pulling into a dead-end on Silven Court.
As the officers approached, the driver became confrontational and refused to exit the vehicle. After several commands, he finally stepped out—but a struggle broke out almost immediately. The suspect pulled a handgun from his pocket and opened fire, hitting both officers. While they were down, he fired additional shots before fleeing the scene.
Backup units arrived quickly. The suspect, later identified as 42-year-old John McCoy III—a convicted felon—was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a shed nearby.
At a press conference, Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate confirmed that Officer Reese was pronounced dead shortly after midnight at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital. Officer Girvin succumbed to his injuries around 4:30 a.m. at Virginia Beach General Hospital. Both were surrounded by family, friends, and fellow officers.
“We’re all hurting,” said Chief Neudigate. “We’ve got families that have lost a loved one in the prime of their life, and they are completely devastated.”
Neighbors reported hearing gunfire and saw a heavy police presence in the area. One resident, Marcus Burton, said, “I looked out my window and saw a guy walking through the alleyway. Next thing you know, the whole neighborhood’s full of cops.”
Another neighbor, Micka Carden, expressed disbelief: “My son was a police officer in the Army. My husband and I both served in the military. We respect law enforcement, and it’s just terrible that this happened. It’s awful.”
The Virginia Beach Fire Department released a statement expressing “profound sadness and sorrow” over the tragedy. On social media, a friend of Officer Girvin wrote, “I’m angry, I’m sad, I’m heartbroken… Cameron, you weren’t just a coworker or a partner. You were one of my best friends. You were a brother to me.”