Regina Santos-Aviles, a congressional aide who died after being found on fire at her Uvalde, Texas, property last year, was allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with her boss before her death, according to a newly surfaced text message.
A former staffer in Rep. Tony Gonzales’ district office told the San Antonio Express-News that Santos-Aviles confided in him in 2024 about the alleged relationship. The former staffer, who asked to remain anonymous, said she later became depressed after her husband learned about the alleged affair.
The former staffer also provided the outlet with a screenshot of an alleged text from Santos-Aviles in which she referenced an “affair with our boss.” He said he became concerned about her well-being and claimed he alerted Gonzales’ office months before her death.
An attorney for Santos-Aviles’ husband told the newspaper the alleged relationship was widely known, but said he did not believe it contributed to her death.
Authorities were called in September 2025 after Santos-Aviles was found on fire at the property. She was taken for medical care and died the next morning. Her family initially said the incident was accidental, and her mother, Nora Ann Gonzalez, told the Express-News that Santos-Aviles was conscious when emergency responders arrived and pleaded not to die.
In November 2025, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined she died by self-immolation, meaning she intentionally set herself on fire.
Her mother also rejected earlier reports that alleged an affair, calling those claims false in public statements at the time.
In a statement to CBS on Wednesday, Feb. 18, Gonzales did not address the allegation directly, saying he would not respond to what he described as personal attacks and would remain focused on border security and issues affecting Texans.
After Santos-Aviles’ death, the former staffer told the Express-News he felt he could no longer support Gonzales’ work. He resigned last month, relocated to Los Angeles, and said he is now working on two local Democratic campaigns. He also denied being paid by any of Gonzales’ primary opponents.
