Austin police say the evidence in the death of a 19-year-old Texas A&M student points to suicide, but her family is flatly rejecting that conclusion and has brought in high-profile legal muscle to challenge it.
The student, identified by police as Brianna Aguilera, was found unresponsive after a Texas–Texas A&M tailgate in Austin's West Campus area. Detectives say the case remains an active death investigation while the Travis County Medical Examiner finishes autopsy and toxicology work, and the family says key questions still are not being answered.
At a news conference, APD homicide detective Robert Marshall told reporters that investigators found a deleted digital "suicide note" on Aguilera’s phone, along with text messages and witness accounts indicating she had made suicidal comments in recent weeks. "At no time did any evidence point to this being anything of a criminal nature," Marshall said, as reported by Chron. Police say the evidence also includes surveillance video and indications of self-harm earlier that evening.
According to investigators, Aguilera, a 19-year-old Bush School student from Laredo, was found unresponsive shortly before 1 a.m. on Nov. 29 at the 21 Rio Apartments in West Campus and was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives are tracking her movements from a Texas–Texas A&M tailgate and are interviewing witnesses and reviewing video and digital records to lock in a timeline. The Travis County Medical Examiner's Office will make the final call on cause and manner of death, and toxicology results may take weeks, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman.
Aguilera’s mother, Stephanie Rodriguez, has gone public with her doubts about the department’s version of events. She says her daughter was terrified of heights and would not have jumped, and she has raised concerns about how Aguilera’s phone and keys were handled. Rodriguez told local outlets that Aguilera's phone was later recovered inside a purse found in nearby woods, a detail that has deepened the family's suspicions, according to FOX 7 Austin. The family has hired prominent Houston attorney Tony Buzbee and the Gamez Law Firm, who say they will be pressing for answers and urged anyone with information to contact their offices, per the Houston Chronicle.
What APD Told Reporters
APD officials stressed that, so far, detectives have found no indication of foul play and are treating the case as an open death investigation rather than a homicide. Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers said the facts currently point to either an accidental fall or suicide as detectives work to piece together Aguilera’s final hours. The department offered condolences to the family and said investigators are still following up on leads and combing through digital evidence, as detailed by Chron.
Legal Response And Next Steps
With the family openly questioning APD’s account, Buzbee’s involvement signals that a civil review or additional public pressure on the investigation is likely. His firm has already asked potential witnesses to reach out to their office.
APD says detectives will keep interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence while the medical examiner finishes the autopsy and toxicology testing, a process that could take several weeks. The family has announced plans for a press conference alongside their attorneys, and APD says it will release new information when it can, according to local reporting by FOX 7 Austin.
What We Still Don't Know
The official cause and manner of Aguilera’s death have not yet been released. Autopsy and toxicology findings from the Travis County Medical Examiner are pending and could remain under review for weeks. The family continues to demand clarity on who handled Aguilera's belongings and whether every possible witness has been fully questioned. Officials are asking anyone with relevant information to contact APD detectives as the investigation continues, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman.
If you were in the area or know anything about Aguilera’s movements that night, APD is asking you to contact detectives through the department’s non-emergency tips channels. Information on how to reach the department and file a tip is available on the Austin Police Department website.
