Autopsy reveals new details in death of Tony Gonzales aide

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Regina Santos-Aviles, a 35-year-old congressional aide who had an affair with her boss, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, was legally intoxicated when she set herself on fire in her backyard in Uvalde, according to an autopsy report. The report from the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office found that Santos-Aviles had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.094 grams per deciliter at the time of her death.

Why it matters

The autopsy results raise questions about Santos-Aviles' state of mind and decision-making on the night she died by suicide. The affair between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales also led to an ethics investigation by the House, highlighting the potential consequences of prohibited relationships between members of Congress and their staff.

The details

According to the autopsy report, Santos-Aviles went to an Applebee's restaurant with friends and family members before the incident, where she had one alcoholic drink. She then purchased tequila and drank some at a friend's home before being driven to her own house. The autopsy found no indication of illicit drugs in her system, but did find traces of anesthetics and sedatives administered by emergency personnel. The report also noted identifying features on Santos-Aviles' body, including tattoos.

• On September 13, 2025, Santos-Aviles set herself on fire in her backyard in Uvalde.
• She was flown to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where she died the next morning on September 14, 2025.

What’s next

The House ethics watchdog is expected to submit a confidential report on its findings regarding the affair between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales to the House Ethics Committee sometime after Tuesday's primary election, in which Gonzales is seeking the Republican Party nomination for a fourth term.