A congressional staffer and devoted mother tragically died after catching fire at her Texas home — and uttered heartbreaking final words to her mother, who discovered her blazing body.
Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, a staffer for Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, died early Sunday at her home in Uvalde, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
“Her last words were ‘I don’t want to die,’” her heartbroken mother, Nora Ann Gonzales, told the outlet of when she arrived at the home and found her fully conscious daughter ablaze.
“And they told her, ‘We will do our best to make sure we get you taken care of.’”
The mother of an 8-year-old boy was taken via medical helicopter to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where she was later pronounced dead, the Express-News reported.
Local fire officials said that there was a fire in the backyard, which had already been extinguished by the time they responded. Authorities have not announced what caused the lethal blaze.
“She loved life and loved her family and loved everyone and loved doing for others,” Gonzales told the paper. “She loved the work that she did and how she helped the communities get funding for things they needed.”
Rep. Gonzales said Santos-Aviles was devoted to improving her Texas community.
“We are all heart-stricken by the recent news. 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,” he said in a statement.
Santos-Aviles had been a regional district director for the congressman since 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Uvalde police said no foul play is suspected and an investigation is ongoing.
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