{"id":26416,"date":"2025-10-29T17:07:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T17:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/26416\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T17:07:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T17:07:11","slug":"fiery-death-of-staffer-for-san-antonio-area-congressman-under-criminal-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/26416\/","title":{"rendered":"Fiery death of staffer for San Antonio-area congressman under criminal investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales\u2019 hasn\u2019t responded to the Current\u2019s request for comment about a British newspaper\u2019s report that he had an affair with the staffer. Credit: Twitter \/ @TonyGonzales4TX<\/p>\n

The fiery death of an aide to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican representing San Antonio\u2019s far West Side plus a swath of South Texas, is now part of a criminal investigation, the Express-News reports<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Initially, authorities, including Uvalde Police Chief Homer E. Delgado, told reporters<\/a> there was \u201cno indication\u201d of foul play in the death of Regina Santos-Aviles, Gonzales\u2019 regional district director. The 35-year-old died last month after she lit herself on fire at her Uvalde home.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, when the Express-News and other outlets asked Uvalde and Bexar County for documents pertaining to Santos-Aviles\u2019 death, including 911 calls, police reports and witness statements, the Texas Attorney General\u2019s Office refused.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a letter to the AG\u2019s office, Uvalde City Attorney Francisco J. Garza wrote that the requested documents couldn\u2019t be released because the case was \u201cpending possible criminal prosecution\u201d and was therefore exempt from the Texas Public Information Act, the daily reports.<\/p>\n

Garza also noted that the police investigation into Santos-Aviles\u2019 death \u201cis ongoing and has yet to be completed,\u201d according to the Express-News.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Word that the death of Gonzales\u2019s staffer is under criminal investigation comes a little more than a week after British paper the Daily Mail reported that Gonzales<\/a>, a husband and father of six, was in a \u201cromantic relationship\u201d with Santos-Aviles prior to her Sept. 14 death.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gonzales\u2019 office hasn\u2019t responded to the Current\u2019s request for comment about the Daily Mail report. However, a Gonzales spokesperson accused \u201cpolitical bottom feeders\u201d of distorting elements of Santos-Aviles\u2019 death.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gonzales is up for reelection next year to represent Texas\u2019 23rd District and faces a challenge<\/a> in the Republican primary from YouTube gun-influencer Brandon Herrera, also known by his online moniker, \u201cthe AK-Guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Tony\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tGonzales\u2019 interview on CNN infuriated members of the House Freedom Caucus, causing one to endorse his primary opponent.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Report:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Daily Mail reports Gonzales, a married father of six, had a relationship with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who died after setting herself ablaze.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Report:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tUvalde Police Chief Homer E. Delgado told reporters that home surveillance footage shows that staffer Regina Ann Santos-Aviles was alone when the fire started. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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