Congressional Staffer Dies in Horrific Fire – Mother Reveals Her Heartbreaking Final Words

A rising political aide is dead after a horrifying fire in Uvalde, Texas — and her mother says her last words still haunt her.

On Saturday night, September 13, first responders rushed to the home of 35-year-old Regina Santos-Aviles, a congressional staffer for Rep. Tony Gonzales. Uvalde police said they received a call shortly after 9:30 p.m. about a fire on the property.

“When we arrived, we learned of a fire behind the residence that had been put out with a fire extinguisher,” Fire Chief Mario Range told the San Antonio Express-News. “EMS personnel were attending to a female who had suffered burns.”

Santos-Aviles was still alive when medics arrived. She was airlifted to a hospital in San Antonio but pronounced dead the next morning.

Her mother, Nora Ann Gonzalez, discovered her daughter outside and tried desperately to comfort her until paramedics took over. She later told reporters that her daughter’s plea was devastating.

“The last thing she said is, ‘I don’t want to die,’” Gonzalez recalled. “And they told her, ‘We will do our best to make sure we get you taken care of.’”

Santos-Aviles joined Gonzales’ office in November 2021, serving as a regional director for the U.S. House of Representatives. Friends say she was deeply committed to helping rebuild Uvalde after the 2022 Robb Elementary school shooting, often working with families of victims and community leaders.

Rep. Gonzales released a statement calling her loss “heart-stricken news.” He said, “Regina devoted her profession toward making a difference in her community. She will always be remembered for her passion towards Uvalde and helping the community become a better place.”

Police say the investigation into how the fire started is ongoing. However, Uvalde Police Chief Homer Delgado said there is “no indication of foul play.”

The Texas Rangers are assisting in the case, and the local medical examiner is working to determine the official cause of death.

In a statement, Chief Delgado said his department is working closely with the grieving family. “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.

Beyond her public role, Santos-Aviles was also a mother. She leaves behind an eight-year-old son.

Family members have described her as fiercely protective and deeply devoted to her child. “She was the kind of mom who never stopped fighting for him,” one relative told KSAT. “She worked hard, she cared deeply, and she wanted nothing more than to build a better future.”

Her death has left both the halls of Congress and the streets of Uvalde mourning the loss of a woman remembered for her drive, her kindness, and her final, haunting words.