Brianna Aguilera’s Family Seeks New Investigation into Death
The family of Brianna Aguilera, a sophomore at Texas State University, is urging Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Rangers to take over the investigation into the 19-year-old’s death, which has been contentious with the Austin police.
This call for action came during a press conference in Houston on Friday, where attorneys Tony Buzbee and Javier Gamez expressed strong concerns over how the Austin Police Department (APD) has handled the case.
Buzbee further alleged that APD shared details they weren’t authorized to disclose publicly.
Earlier this week, police reported finding a suicide note that had been deleted from Aguilera’s cell phone, but her family believes it was part of a creative writing class assignment.
Aguilera was discovered dead early Saturday morning after falling from the balcony of a high-rise building in West Campus. Minutes before her fall, she had reportedly called her boyfriend using a friend’s phone, and witnesses mentioned overhearing an argument.
Austin police stated that she borrowed the phone just before the incident, but Aguilera’s mother has contested that account.
Her phone was located near a stream by her apartment, set to “do not disturb.” Her mother said Aguilera frequently shared her location with friends, and it was always accessible.
While APD has leaned toward a suicide conclusion, an autopsy is still pending. The family is frustrated, as they feel the initial conclusions don’t align with what they’ve learned about her final moments.
This request underscores the increasing distrust the family feels towards APD, claiming that the department overlooked fundamental investigative procedures and hastily classified the death as a suicide. They argue that the case requires fresh perspective from state authorities.
Buzbee and Gamez mentioned they are compiling a detailed report for the governor, which will include witness statements and evidence that they believe APD has not considered.
Buzbee suggested that a detective made quick assumptions about the situation and constructed a case based on those initial ideas.
He raised questions about why officials would publicly suggest suicide when the determination hadn’t yet been made.
Rodriguez, Aguilera’s mother, shared her experience of reaching out to the police after her daughter’s death but feeling dismissed each time.
During their interactions, she described the officers’ attitudes as condescending, making her feel like “some kind of criminal,” and advising her against speaking with her daughter’s friends.
She insisted that the last time she spoke with Aguilera was that morning, expressing confidence that her daughter was not in a suicidal state.
Aguilera was recognized as an all-star cheerleader and maintained good grades throughout her life.
Buzbee portrayed her as a sophomore with great aspirations, noting that she had “the world at her feet.” She was studying political science and criminal justice at Texas A&M, with dreams of attending law school in New York to become a criminal defense attorney.
One witness reported hearing someone shout “get away from me” outside the building, while another recalled hearing sounds of someone running inside the apartment, both of which Buzbee claims APD never followed up on.
The evidence they are gathering contradicts the initial statements made by authorities, according to the family.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Austin police have reiterated that the case remains open and that only the coroner can determine Aguilera’s cause of death.
Rodriguez emphasized her commitment to keep pressuring for an independent review. “I can’t deal with you jumping to conclusions and not doing the actual investigation,” she stated. “Please do your job.”
