Report Discloses Cause Of De*th For Congressional Aide Found On Fire

A staffer for Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) who burned to death at her Uvalde home set herself on fire with gasoline, investigators stated.

According to the New York Post, a report said Regina Santos-Aviles “doused herself in gasoline” on September 13th.

Her family insists it was an accident.

“She was discovered alive but burning by her mother and airlifted to a hospital, where she later died. Police say no foul play is suspected, but her family insists the fire was accidental,” Mario Nawfal wrote.

TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER SETS HERSELF ABLAZE AFTER DOUSED IN GASOLINE, DIES

Regina Santos-Aviles, a staffer for Rep. Tony Gonzales, died after reportedly dousing herself in gasoline and igniting in flames in her Uvalde backyard, according to a firefighter report.

She was… pic.twitter.com/vNiQXfWQ4a

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 30, 2025

More from the New York Post:

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.

Santos-Aviles died the following day at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

Home surveillance video captured Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, an aide to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, with her body on fire in her backyard in Uvalde on Sept. 13, police said.

Santos-Aviles, 35, died the next day at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. https://t.co/jTG8citSzK pic.twitter.com/47m3eoFfme

— San Antonio Express-News (@ExpressNews) September 24, 2025

Daily Mail shared additional details:

Santos-Aviles’s mother, Nora Ann Gonzales, described the incident as a tragic accident and said that her daughter’s final words were: ‘I don’t want to die.’

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‘When we arrived, we learned of a fire behind the residence that had been put out with a fire extinguisher,’ fire department chief Mario Rangel told the San Antonio Express-News.

In a statement, Congressman Gonzales said: ‘We are all heart-stricken by the recent news.

‘Regina devoted her profession toward making a difference in her community.

‘She will always be remembered for her passion towards Uvalde and helping the community become a better place.’

Police said they were called to Santos-Aviles’s home in Uvalde at around 9.30pm, according to a call sheet obtained by KSAT.

The Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department also received a call at 9.39pm for an ‘individual who was on fire’.

The call was canceled, but firefighters still attended to the home since it was close to the station.