After one in all his staffers died from dousing herself with gasoline and catching hearth, a Texas Congressman has canceled all media occasions – seemingly to keep away from questions on her demise.
Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, poured gasoline on herself earlier than she grew to become engulfed in flames at her dwelling on September 13 in Uvalde, Texas – about two hours exterior of San Antonio.
The married mom of 1, who was separated from her husband in line with the San Antonio Express News, had labored for Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales as regional district director since 2021.
‘The very last thing she mentioned is, “I don’t need to die,”‘ Aviles’ mom Nora Gonzales advised the Express News.
She was airlifted to San Antonio, the place she died on the hospital the subsequent day.
Investigators have but to find out her reason for demise, with the medical expert telling Every day Mail Thursday that the post-mortem outcomes are nonetheless pending.
Nevertheless, Uvalde police imagine she was alone in her yard when she began to burn, in line with the Express News, who reported her demise as a self-immolation.
Days after her demise, the media was disinvited to an occasion the place Gonzales could be face-to-face with reporters.
Gonzales had been scheduled to go to Southwest Analysis Institute in San Antonio for the opening of a brand new analysis facility September 22.
Santos-Aviles’s mom, Nora Ann Gonzales, described the incident as a tragic accident and that her daughter’s closing phrases have been: ‘I do not need to die,’ in line with the San Antonio Categorical Information
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, walks down the Home steps after a vote within the Capitol on Friday, September 30, 2022
Whereas he nonetheless attended the occasion, the ability notified the media they have been not welcome, in line with the local TV station.
Gonzales’ workplace did present a press release about this staffer’s passing.
‘We’re all heart-stricken by the latest information. Regina devoted her occupation towards making a distinction in her group,’ Gonzales’ assertion to Every day Mail reads.
‘She’s going to all the time be remembered for her ardour in the direction of Uvalde and serving to the group grow to be a greater place.’
The discharge of public information associated to the Congressional aide’s demise have been blocked by the Uvalde Police Division.
In a letter to the Every day Mail and different media retailers, the cops main the investigation into Aviles’ demise clarify they won’t launch public information, together with the 911 name, any video or police reviews associated to Aviles’ burning.
Regardless of information being launched to the media regularly involving crimes which are underneath investigation, Uvalde police mentioned they’d withhold the information and make their case to the state Lawyer Normal that he ought to preserve them secret.
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, leaves a Home Republican Convention candidate discussion board for speaker assembly in Longworth Constructing on Tuesday, October 10, 2023
In a letter to the Every day Mail and different media retailers, the Uvalde Police Division informs it is not going to launch public information associated to the demise of Congressional aide Regina Santos-Aviles
She is survived by her husband, Adrian (proper), and their son, Axel. Her obituary described her as ‘a faithful mom, a loving daughter, sister, and spouse and a loyal buddy’
She was discovered engulfed in flames at her Uvalde dwelling (pictured) on September 13. Investigators decided she was dwelling alone on the time
The ‘cozy’ relationship between Uvalde’s police chief and Gonzales has lately been known as into query by a metropolis councilman.
Ernest Santos, a Uvalde elected official, advised the native paper he thought of it inappropriate for Police Chief Homer Delgado to endorse Gonzales, who’s presently operating for re-election.
Gonzales’ district consists of, San Antonio, Uvalde, and stretches out west to El Paso.
‘And sadly, have a look at what occurred,’ Santos advised the Express News. ‘Right here we now have a chief of police endorsing this candidate, and we now have this occur with an worker of Tony Gonzales. We should stay impartial. We want to verify we do all the things by the e-book.’
Gonzales marketing campaign has since eliminated a flyer bragging in regards to the police chief’s endorsement for the congressman.
