Regina Santos-Aviles, a dedicated staff member for Texas Representative Tony Gonzales, tragically passed away in a fire incident at her Uvalde residence on September 13. Firefighters who arrived at the scene reported that Santos-Aviles appeared to have covered herself in gasoline before the fire ignited. However, the Uvalde Police Department has yet to confirm whether the fire was deliberately set by Santos-Aviles, and there are no current suspicions of foul play.
The 35-year-old mother was discovered by her own mother, still alive and consumed by flames, around 9:30 p.m. on the night of the incident. She was promptly airlifted to a nearby hospital for immediate treatment. Despite the firefighters’ report suggesting self-immolation, Santos-Aviles’ family insists that the incident was an accident.
A family member relayed to local news outlet KSAT that Santos-Aviles’ final words were, “I don’t want to die.” Surveillance footage from the home confirmed that Santos-Aviles was alone when the fire ignited.
Santos-Aviles, a mother to an 8-year-old boy, was cherished by her community as a lively and devoted individual. She was recognized for her zest for life, her love for her family, and her dedication to serving her community.
Representative Gonzales expressed his admiration for 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 serving as a regional district director in Gonzales’ office since 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile. The investigation into her death is still in progress, and law enforcement officials have indicated that it could be several weeks before a final report from medical examiners is available.