A staffer for Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) died Sunday morning after catching on fire at her home in Texas.
First responders were called to the home of Uvalde Regional District Director Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, on Saturday night after a relative found her on fire outside her house.
She was airlifted to a hospital in San Antonio, but had suffered extensive burns and succumbed to her injuries the next day. A family member told KSAT that her death was an accident and that there was a water hose outside her home.
“Her last words were ‘I don’t want to die,’” the family member said.
Gonzales mourned his staffer in a statement to KSAT. “We are all heart-stricken by the recent news,” he said. “Regina devoted her profession toward making a difference in her community. She will always be remembered for her passion toward Uvalde and helping the community become a better place.”
Local police and the Texas Rangers are looking into Santos-Aviles’s death.
Uvalde Police Department Chief Homer Delgado said unattended deaths are routinely examined, according to KSAT.
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“In times of loss, our greatest duty is to stand together, support one another, and honor the memory of those we have lost,” he said. “Out of respect for the family, no additional details will be released at this time.
A congressional intern, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, died in June after a drive-by shooting.