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A senior aide who died after setting herself on fire was allegedly having an affair with the Texas Congressmanshe worked for.
Regina Aviles, 35, died on September 14, hours after she was discovered engulfed in flames at her home in Uvalde, Texas.
The mother-of-one, who had been the regional district director for Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales since 2021, had reportedly doused herself in gasoline before her death.
- Regina Aviles, a senior aide to Congressman Tony Gonzales, died after setting herself on fire at her home in Uvalde, Texas.
- Aviles was allegedly having a long-term affair with the married Congressman Gonzales, a claim his spokesperson refused to deny.
- Surveillance footage reportedly shows Aviles dousing herself in gasoline, a detail under investigation by Texas DPS.
- Authorities have withheld public records related to the case, sparking accusations of political favoritism towards Gonzales.
Regina Aviles and Tony Gonzales were allegedly having an affair
Image credits: Facebook
Sources have now told the Daily Mailthat Aviles was allegedly having an affair with Gonzales, who is married with six children.
It is understood that Aviles was separated from her husband at the time of her death and had shared custody of their eight-year-old son.
Several sources told the Daily Mail that the alleged affair had been ongoing for “some time” and that Aviles’ husband was aware of the relationship.
When repeatedly asked by the outlet if he would deny the affair, a spokesperson for Gonzales refused to comment on their relationship.
Image credits: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
“Regina Aviles was a kind soul who had a lasting impact on her community, which she continued to serve until her untimely death,” the spokesperson said.
“To see political bottom feeders distort the circumstances around her passing is truly sickening.
“Tony Gonzales remains laser-focused on delivering historic achievements for Texas and condemns any attempts to misuse this tragedy.”
Sources also told the publication that Aviles was seen dousing herself in gasoline on September 13, through cameras her husband had installed at the home they once shared.
The footage is being reviewed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Image credits: Facebook
Uvalde Police Chief Homer E. Delgado previously said Aviles was “alone in her backyard when the fire began.”
“At this stage of the investigation, we do not have any information to suggest that anyone else was involved,” Delgado said in a statement.
Officials have not yet released an official cause of death, and it is understood authorities are still waiting on reports from the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office and the DPS crime lab.
But the Uvalde Police Department has blocked the release of public records such as the 911 call, video evidence, and police reports related to Aviles’ death.
Given that those records are often released in similar cases, the move has sparked backlash and accusations of political favoritism towards Gonzales.
Gonzales is currently serving his third term as a congressman
Image credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Aviles’ family described the incident as a tragic accident, with her mother, Nora Ann Gonzales, telling San Antonio Express-News that her daughter did not want to die.
Nora told the outlet that her daughter was upset because her son was spending the weekend with his father.
When Nora attended the home, she found Aviles burned and asking for water. “The last thing she said is, ‘I don’t want to die,’” Nora recalled.
Aviles was treated at the scene by paramedics and transferred to a specialized burn unit but succumbed to her injuries the following day.
Image credits: John Moore/Getty Images
“She loved life and loved her family and loved everyone and loved doing for others,” Nora said.
“She loved the work that she did and how she helped the communities get funding for things they needed.”
It is understood that Gonzales did not attend Aviles’ funeral on September 25.
The Congressman, 43, is currently serving his third term as a lawmaker, with his district covering more than 800 miles of the southern border.
Aviles was pictured by his side in 2023 when he hosted Elon Musk in a high-profile tour of the U.S.-Mexico border and areas where migrants had surrendered to border patrol.
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