Regina Santos-aviles Suicide Text Obituary, Death; New details have emerged surrounding the death of Regina Santos-Aviles, a staffer for U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, who died after setting herself on fire outside her Uvalde home.
An autopsy report obtained by the San Antonio Express-News revealed Santos-Aviles was legally intoxicated at the time of the incident, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.094%—above the 0.08% threshold for legal intoxication. She succumbed to her injuries on September 14, a day after the incident.
Santos-Aviles’ husband, Adrian Aviles, claimed that the congressman “pushed her to the point of having an affair,” raising further questions about the circumstances leading to her death.
Fallout and Congressional Scrutiny
The tragedy has sparked calls for accountability, with questions about how the scandal could affect Gonzales’ re-election bid. Some of his colleagues have publicly pushed for resignation, while others are exploring formal disciplinary actions.
Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna described the situation as “abhorrent” and said she is considering filing a censure resolution in the U.S. House next week. A censure, if passed, would not remove Gonzales from office but would require him to stand in the House chamber and be publicly condemned. Luna criticized the ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation as insufficient, noting, “House Ethics is where things go to die.”
Rep. Tony Gonzales has stated that publicly released information does not capture the full picture and that more details will emerge in due time.
Salary Increases Raise Questions
Reports also indicate that Santos-Aviles received a significant pay increase in 2024, the same year the alleged affair occurred. Her annual salary rose from $47,500 in 2021 to $68,000 by 2025, alongside bonuses and other compensation not awarded to colleagues holding similar positions. In 2024, her quarterly base salary jumped to $17,000, with additional compensation totaling nearly $73,000 for the year—a 35% increase from the previous year.
The unusual pay spikes, coupled with allegations of an affair, have intensified scrutiny of Gonzales’ conduct, while the political and personal ramifications of the case continue to unfold.