A Texas college student’s mother is urgently seeking answers after her daughter was discovered dead near campus following an incident involving a reckless driver, as indicated by reports and local authorities.
Briana Aguilera, a 19-year-old enrolled at Texas A&M University, was found deceased outside an apartment complex around 1 a.m. Saturday, just hours after attending a football game between Texas A&M and the University of Texas.
Her mother, Stephanie Rodriguez, shared her frustration with the inconsistent information received from the Austin Police Department, which suggested that Aguilera may have died by suicide.
According to Rodriguez, a detective mentioned that her daughter had fallen from the 17th floor.
“There’s a lot of contradiction here,” Rodriguez expressed. “Initially, I was told she said she jumped. But then I was told her friends had no idea where she was.”
Rodriguez, clearly heartbroken, insisted that her daughter, a sophomore, was not suicidal and had ambitions of becoming a lawyer. After the game, she called police when Aguilera didn’t answer her phone and noticed it ringing in Austin.
Police reportedly advised her to wait 24 hours before filing a missing person report.
Officers later discovered Aguilera’s cell phone on Saturday. However, Rodriguez learned about her daughter’s presence in the morgue only at around 4 p.m. that day.
She suspects that there may be more to the story surrounding her daughter’s tragic fall.
Rodriguez believes that at least one of the 15 people present at the apartment might know more about what happened. “There was a fight between my daughter and another girl, and all of them lived in the same building. I even had text exchanges with them, but the detective overlooked them,” she noted.
Austin police have stated that the death is not being treated as a homicide since no suspicious elements were found during their investigation.
The Travis County Coroner’s Office is set to determine the cause of death for the aspiring lawyer.
Aguilera, a Laredo native who attended United High School, was described in a GoFundMe created for her family as an “experienced cheerleader” who graduated with high honors.
“She was pursuing her dream of becoming a lawyer by attending the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M,” the campaign added.
Details surrounding her death remain unclear, leaving her mother waiting for more answers.
The GoFundMe has since exceeded its goal, raising over $28,000. Rodriguez expressed gratitude for the support amidst such a difficult time: “I’m overwhelmed by everyone’s love and kindness. Losing Brie Brie has been incredibly hard, but the outpouring has energized me,” she said in a message to supporters.
“Every parent’s worst nightmare has become my reality, yet I find comfort knowing that my Bree Bree made a significant impact on so many lives.”
Texas A&M University has not responded promptly to requests for comment.
