After one of his staffers died from dousing herself with gasoline and catching fire, a Texas Congressman has canceled all media events – seemingly to avoid questions about her death.
Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, poured gasoline on herself before she became engulfed in flames at her home on September 13 in Uvalde, Texas – about two hours outside of San Antonio.
The married mother of one, who was separated from her husband according to the San Antonio Express News, had worked for Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales as regional district director since 2021.
‘The last thing she said is, “I don’t want to die,”‘ Aviles’ mother Nora Gonzales told the Express News.
She was airlifted to San Antonio, where she died at the hospital the next day.
Investigators have yet to determine her cause of death, with the medical examiner telling Daily Mail Thursday that the autopsy results are still pending.
However, Uvalde police believe she was alone in her backyard when she started to burn, according to the Express News, who reported her death as a self-immolation.
Days after her death, the media was disinvited to an event where Gonzales would be face-to-face with reporters.
Gonzales had been scheduled to visit Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio for the opening of a new research facility September 22.
While he still attended the event, the facility notified the media they were no longer welcome, according to the local TV station.
Gonzales’ office did provide a statement about this staffer’s passing.
‘We are all heart-stricken by the recent news. Regina devoted her profession toward making a difference in her community,’ Gonzales’ statement to Daily Mail reads.
‘She will always be remembered for her passion towards Uvalde and helping the community become a better place.’
The release of public records related to the Congressional aide’s death have been blocked by the Uvalde Police Department.
In a letter to the Daily Mail and other media outlets, the cops leading the investigation into Aviles’ death explain they will not release public records, including the 911 call, any video or police reports related to Aviles’ burning.
Despite records being released to the media on a regular basis involving crimes that are under investigation, Uvalde police said they would withhold the records and make their case to the state Attorney General that he should keep them secret.
The ‘cozy’ relationship between Uvalde’s police chief and Gonzales has recently been called into question by a city councilman.
Ernest Santos, a Uvalde elected official, told the local paper he considered it inappropriate for Police Chief Homer Delgado to endorse Gonzales, who is currently running for re-election.
Gonzales’ district includes, San Antonio, Uvalde, and stretches out west to El Paso.
‘And unfortunately, look at what happened,’ Santos told the Express News. ‘Here we have a chief of police endorsing this candidate, and we have this happen with an employee of Tony Gonzales. We must remain neutral. We need to make sure we do everything by the book.’
Gonzales campaign has since removed a flyer bragging about the police chief’s endorsement for the congressman.
Read more
- How did a congressional staffer’s tragic end shock her Texas community?
- How did Uvalde’s community respond to the devastating incident involving their beloved and devoted public servant, Regina Santos-Aviles?
- How did the tragic fire transform a devoted mother and congressional staffer’s promising life into an unspeakable nightmare in Uvalde?
- What dark secrets led to the downfall and untimely death of former mayor José González amidst allegations of heinous crimes?
- How did Councilwoman Gonzalez’s arrest follow a string of dramatic DWI incidents among San Antonio city officials?
