By Steve Neavling
Two family friends of Jessica D. Aber, the former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said police told those close to her that foul play is not suspected in her death.
“All indications point to, this was a complication from a long-standing medical condition known to her close friends and family,” one friend told The Washington Post. Another said, “The police believe that the cause of death was the result of a long-standing medical issue.”
Aber, 43, had a serious medical condition that was known to those close to her, the friends said. Out of respect for her family’s privacy, The Post did not identify the condition.
Alexandria police found Aber deceased at her home shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday. In a brief statement, the department said an investigation is underway and that the Virginia medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death. A ruling could take up to 12 weeks, according to an official with the medical examiner’s office.
Aber resigned in January after spending most of her legal career in public service, including more than two years as the top federal prosecutor for Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads. She oversaw cases involving terrorism, gang violence, multimillion-dollar fraud, and national security leaks.
Her death quickly drew speculation and conspiracy theories online.
