San Antonio Express-NewsNancy M. Preyor-JohnsonTue, September 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM UTC3 min readRegina Ann Santos-Aviles, an aide to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, died Sept. 14. (Courtesy: Nora Gonzales)An aide to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales who died of burns earlier this month poured gasoline over herself before she was engulfed in flames, the San Antonio Express-News has learned.The Uvalde Leader-News was first to report the new information.RELATED: Police say death of aide to Rep. Tony Gonzales was caught on videoRegina Ann "Regi" Santos-Aviles, 35, regional district director for Gonzales, was found severely burned in the backyard of her home in Uvalde on the evening of Sept. 13. She was airlifted to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where she died the next morning.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMembers of the Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department went to Santos-Aviles' house at 9:39 p.m. Sept. 13 in response to a report of "an individual who was on fire." Citing a fire department report, the Leader-News reported that Uvalde police told firefighters Santos-Aviles had "doused herself in gasoline and was ignited into flames."The Express-News confirmed those details independently.READ MORE: New details emerge in fiery death of aide to U.S. Rep. Tony GonzalesUvalde police are investigating the incident, with assistance from the Texas Rangers.The Bexar County Medical Examiner has not yet ruled on the cause and manner of Santos-Aviles' death. The ME's finding as to the manner of death would indicate whether it was by homicide, by suicide, accidental or undetermined. Police have said they found no indication of foul play.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSantos-Aviles had worked for Gonzales, a Republican representing Texas' 23rd Congressional District, since November 2021. Previously, she worked at the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce.Uvalde Police Chief Homer E. Delgado said last week that detectives submitted surveillance footage from Santos-Aviles' home to the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab for analysis."Preliminary findings from DPS personnel confirming that Regina Santos-Aviles was alone in her backyard when the fire began," Delgado said. "At this stage of the investigation, we do not have any information to suggest that anyone else was involved."Santos-Aviles had been separated from her husband for a couple of months. They were sharing parenting responsibilities for their 8-year-old son. Her mother, Nora Gonzales, a retired school counselor in Uvalde, said that when she spoke to her daughter by phone on Sept. 13, Santos-Aviles was distraught because her son was spending the weekend with his father.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe case has drawn political scrutiny. Uvalde City Councilman Ernest Santos questioned why a Facebook post by Tony Gonzales' campaign committee appeared to feature an endorsement from Delgado, whose department is leading the investigation into Santos-Aviles' death. The congressman is up for reelection next year."My concern is that we shouldn't be getting involved in political issues," Santos said. "What if, at the end of the election, someone else wins, and then we have to be worried about losing funding? And unfortunately, look at what happened. Here we have a chief of police endorsing this candidate, and we have this happen with an employee of Tony Gonzales. We must remain neutral."READ MORE: New wrinkle emerges in investigation into death of Rep. Tony Gonzales aideThe campaign post - since removed - showed Delgado's photograph alongside a statement of support for Gonzales. The Uvalde Police Department told the Express-News that Delgado's title was used without his authorization and that he asked to have the post taken down.