A congressional staffer in Uvalde, Texas, died after setting herself on fire with gasoline at her home, according to investigators. Regina Santos-Aviles, a 35-year-old mother and employee of Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), was discovered alive but burning by her mother on September 13. Firefighters arrived and extinguished flames from gasoline cans, but Santos-Aviles later succumbed to her injuries at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
Her family described the incident as an accident, with Santos-Aviles’s mother, Nora Ann Gonzales, stating that her daughter’s final words were “I don’t want to die.” A fire department chief reported that a fire had been put out using a fire extinguisher at the residence. Uvalde Police confirmed no foul play was suspected and noted no other individuals were involved.
Santos-Aviles was airlifted to the hospital after being found burning around 9:30 p.m. The Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department received a call about an “individual who was on fire” but canceled it before responding, though firefighters still arrived due to proximity to the station. Congressman Gonzales released a statement honoring her dedication to community work in Uvalde.
