Details of Tony Gonzales aide's fiery death to remain secret

Details about how an aide to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales died — and how authorities investigated her fiery death — will continue to be withheld from the public after a ruling by the Texas Attorney General's Office.

The decision endorses the Bexar County District Attorney’s position that releasing the information would interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation, even though the death of Regina "Regi" Santos-Aviles has been ruled a suicide and law enforcement officials have said there is no indication anyone else was involved.

Santos-Aviles, 35, regional district director for Gonzales, was found severely burned in the backyard of her home in Uvalde on Sept. 13. She was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where she died the following morning.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the death was a suicide by self-immolation. Fire officials and police have said home security video indicates Santos-Aviles was alone at the time.

The San Antonio Express-News and other media organizations asked the medical examiner for copies of the autopsy report, investigators' notes, results of toxicology tests and other records under the Texas Public Information Act. The ME's office made public its findings as to the cause and manner of death but withheld other information, contending that a criminal investigation remained open and that disclosure could jeopardize it.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/regina-santos-aviles-tony-gonzales-records-secret-21251011.php