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A cause of death has been determined in the case of Regina Santos-Aviles, a staffer for Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, who died after an incident in which she caught fire at her home in September.
Santos-Aviles’ death was ruled a suicide by self-immolation, according to Texas Public Radio, citing the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office.
She was found critically burned in her backyard the night of Sept. 13 after emergency crews responded to reports of a disturbance around 9:30 p.m., the outlet reported.
Left: Regina Santos Aviles; Right: Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, is seen in the U.S. Capitol before the House voted to keep the government funded into March, on Jan. 18, 2024. (Left: Right: Regina Santos Aviles on Facebook; Right: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Paramedics airlifted her to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where she died early the next morning, Sept. 14.
Santos-Aviles had served as regional district director for the congressman, her LinkedIn profile indicates.
In an interview Thursday at The Texas Tribune Festival, Gonzales said he was not yet aware of the exact circumstances of her death.
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, is seen outside the U.S. Capitol as the House voted to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act on June 24, 2022. Gonzales asked that people remember Santos-Aviles for her dedication to her community. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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“I don’t know exactly what happened,” Gonzales told KSAT.com. “No one’s contacted me; I haven’t contacted anyone.”
“I’m waiting for a final…
