Regina Santos-Aviles, a staff member for Texas Representative Tony Gonzales, tragically lost her life in a fire incident in her backyard in Uvalde on September 13. Firefighters who responded to the scene reported that Santos-Aviles had doused herself in gasoline before the fire started. However, the Uvalde Police Department has not confirmed whether the fire was intentionally set by Santos-Aviles, and no foul play is suspected.
The 35-year-old mother was found by her own mother, still alive and engulfed in flames, around 9:30 p.m. on the night of the incident. She was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Despite the firefighters’ report suggesting self-immolation, Santos-Aviles’ family maintains that the incident was accidental.
A family member shared with local news outlet KSAT that Santos-Aviles’ last words were, “I don’t want to die.” Surveillance footage from the home showed that Santos-Aviles was alone when the fire started.
Santos-Aviles, a mother to an 8-year-old boy, was remembered by her community as a vibrant and dedicated individual. She was known for her love for life, her family, and her commitment to serving her community.
Representative Gonzales spoke fondly of Santos-Aviles in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News, stating, “She loved life and loved her family and loved everyone and loved doing for others. She loved the work that she did and how she helped the communities get funding for things they needed.”
Santos-Aviles had been working as a regional district director in Gonzales’ office since 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile. The investigation into her death is still ongoing, and law enforcement officials have indicated that it could be several weeks before a final report from medical examiners is available.