The alleged mistress of a Texas congressman was drunk as she set herself on fire in a horrific suicide, an autopsy exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail reveals.
Regina Aviles, 35, poured gasoline on herself and self-immolated in the backyard of her home on September 13 in Uvalde, Texas – about two hours west of San Antonio.
The autopsy, obtained through a public records request, revealed her blood alcohol level was 0.094 – well above the legal limit of 0.08 for drivers – some 36 hours after she set herself ablaze.
Amphetamine – a stimulant commonly used to treat ADHD – was also in her system and was described as ‘known prescribed use’.
As the Daily Mail first reported in October, sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed Aviles and her married boss, Representative Tony Gonzales, 45, allegedly became romantically involved sometime after she joined his staff in November 2021.
His spokesman initially chose not to deny the affair when repeatedly offered the opportunity by the Daily Mail, however, Gonzales himself denied it months later. Aviles was also married and was separated from her husband at the time of her death.
In November, her death was ruled a suicide by self immolation, however, state officials had refused to release her autopsy until now – denying previous public records request.
The mother of one’s body was ‘nearly 100 percent burned’ when her autopsy was performed on the September 15.
Regina Aviles’s final words were ‘I don’t want to die,’ according to her mother
Congressman Tony Gonzales hosted Elon Musk in September 2023 as he toured the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. Aviles can been seen on the right of Musk
Her body was described as charred with a ‘near total loss’ of the top layer of skin in the public documents.
She also had a broken heart tattooed on her right hand, the report states.
‘Regi’, as she was known by loved ones, was alone at her home September 13 when a home surveillance camera recorded her pouring liquid on herself and later being on fire.
Aviles and her husband had separated after he allegedly learned of the affair sometime in 2025, a source shared, but they continued to co-parent their eight-year-old son.
Local fire fighters arrived at her home around 9.30 pm.
She was airlifted to a hospital in San Antonio that same night for treatment.
She was declared dead on the morning of September 14 at the hospital, and the autopsy was performed the next day.
When asked about the affair in October, Congressman Gonzales did not deny it.
‘Regina Aviles was a kind soul who had a lasting impact on her community, which she continued to serve until her untimely death,’ his spokesman told the Daily Mail.
Aviles poured gasoline over herself before becoming engulfed in flames at her home in Texas
The 35-year-old was found at in flames at the Uvalde property in September. Investigators determined she was home alone at the time
Gonzales, who has a wife, Angel, did not attend Aviles’s funeral, sources told the Daily Mail
‘To see political bottom feeders distort the circumstances around her passing is truly sickening. Tony Gonzales remains laser-focused on delivering historic achievements for Texas and condemns any attempts to misuse this tragedy.’
After dodging reporters for months and refusing to answer questions about the alleged affair, Gonzales later broke his silence.
‘The rumors are completely untruthful,’ he told reporters in November.
For help and support, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988.
