A staffer for Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales who burned to death in her backyard set herself on fire with gasoline, according to firefighters — but her family still insists it was an accident.
Regina Santos-Aviles “doused herself in gasoline” in Uvalde on September 13, according to a report from responding firefighters obtained by the Uvalde Leader News.
The 35-year-old mother then “was ignited in flames,” the report said, adding that burning gasoline cans were extinguished when firefighters arrived.
Officials did not say whether she deliberately started the fatal blaze, but the Uvalde Police Department said it does not suspect anybody else was involved in her death or that there was any foul play.
Santos-Aviles was found alive and still ablaze by her own mother around 9:30 p.m. that night, and was helicoptered to a nearby hospital.
Despite the report of apparent self-immolation, her family remained adamant that whatever happened was accidental.
“Her last words were, ‘I don’t want to die,’” a member of her family told KSAT.
Santos-Aviles was alone when the fire started, home surveillance footage obtained by investigators showed.
A mother to an 8-year-old boy, Santos-Aviles was remembered as being full of life and devoted to bettering her Texas community.
“She loved life and loved her family and loved everyone and loved doing for others,” Rep. Gonzales previously told the San Antonio Express-News.
“She loved the work that she did and how she helped the communities get funding for things they needed,” he added.
Santos-Aviles started working in Gonzales’ office as a regional district director in 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile.
The investigation into her death remains ongoing, and law enforcement said it could be weeks until a final report from medical examiners is ready.
