In the wake of a perplexing incident in Austin, Texas, the mother of a 19-year-old Texas A&M University student is seeking answers. Brianna Aguilera was found deceased near a downtown apartment complex early Saturday morning, hours after attending a college football tailgate event.
The discovery of Aguilera's body followed her attendance at a tailgate for the game between Texas A&M and the University of Texas. Stephanie Rodriguez, her mother, has voiced frustration due to what she perceives as inconsistent information provided by the Austin Police Department. The authorities have suggested that Aguilera's death was a suicide, citing that she had fallen from the 17th floor of the building.
Rodriguez, however, disputes this account, saying, “There are a lot of inconsistencies with the story.” She further highlighted that her daughter, an aspiring lawyer, had been eagerly looking forward to her future and showed no signs of being suicidal.
Concerns arose when Aguilera did not respond to calls following the Friday game. Upon noticing her daughter's phone pinging in Austin, Rodriguez promptly contacted the police, who instructed her to wait 24 hours before filing a missing person report. Aguilera's phone was located the next day, but Rodriguez was not notified of her daughter's passing until 4 p.m. that same day, when her body was already at the morgue.
The delay in notification, among other issues, has intensified the mother's distress and skepticism about the investigation's thoroughness. Rodriguez believes there is more to the story than what has been disclosed, mentioning that about 15 individuals were present in the apartment where the incident occurred. She also alleges that a physical altercation involving her daughter happened, supported by text messages she provided, which she claims were disregarded by the detective.
Despite these concerns, Austin police are not treating Aguilera's death as a homicide and have not found any evidence to suggest foul play. The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office is tasked with determining the official cause of death, the results of which are pending.
A native of Laredo and a United High School alumna, Aguilera was recognized as a "seasoned cheerleader" who graduated with magna cum laude honors. At Texas A&M, she was studying at The Bush School of Government & Public Service, working toward her dream of a law career.
In the aftermath, a GoFundMe campaign was set up to support the family, raising over $28,000, surpassing its $12,000 goal. The community's support underscores Aguilera's impact on those around her. Rodriguez, in a message to donors, expressed her immense gratitude and reflected on the tragedy of losing her daughter.
Texas A&M University has not issued a public statement regarding Aguilera's death. Meanwhile, the case continues to garner attention as Rodriguez and the public await further details and clarity from the ongoing investigation.
