Brianna Aguilera cause of death ruled to be suicide by Travis County Medical Examiner as Texas A&M student’s mother and family lawyer continue to claim that foul play was involved, citing neighbor hearing screaming moments before leap as family file lawsuit claiming teen was over served alcohol while attending tailgate party before plunging 17 floors to her death.
A Texas A&M student who died after falling from a 17th story balcony after attending a tailgate party took her own life, officials ruled.
Brianna Aguilera, 19, was found dead outside an apartment building in Austin late last November, in a case that sparked rumors she may been murdered despite notes found on her phone that raised questions the teen had been harboring suicidal ideations.
The Travis County Medical Examiner officially ruled Aguilera’s death as a suicide, three sources confirmed to KVUE. The full report is to be released later today the outlet reported.
Texas A&M student suicide note found on phone
Aguilera, a sophomore, had attended the annual rivalry football game between Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin.
Investigators later said that Aguilera took her own life, revealing in December that they had found what they described as a suicide note on her phone.
Its contents were not revealed.
They concluded that the ‘impulsive act’ was triggered by an argument with her boyfriend after a day of heavy drinking.
Yet the teen’s family, represented by attorney Tony Buzbee disputed that initial finding and accused Austin police of ignoring critical evidence.
Witness claims she heard screaming prior to 17 story plunge
Aguilera’s mother, Stephanie Rodriguez has continued to maintain her daughter’s death was caused by foul play.
Those who had been with Aguilera in her final hours told police they did not see or hear her fall, and said they did not realize she was missing from the apartment until the following day.
During a press conference last month, Buzbee unveiled what he claims is a crucial witness who was overlooked by the police – a neighbor who says she heard disturbing sounds from the apartment where Aguilera was in the moments before the fatal fall.
Dannah Rodriguez, who lives in the apartment complex, said she heard yelling and what appeared to be a heated argument involving multiple people late that night.
‘I began hearing a girl arguing with other people,’ she said. ‘It sounded like it was multiple people in the apartment pacing back and forth, so it was hard to recall what was said in the argument.’
Rodriguez said the confrontation escalated to the point that her mother, who was visiting at the time, considered crossing the hallway to intervene.
They both heard loud screaming but claimed the noise eventually died down, and they thought nothing more of it.
Brianna Aguilera family maintain student’s death was result of foul play
Surveillance footage captured Aguilera arriving at the 21 Rio apartment complex at 11pm and going into a unit on the 17th floor, according to police.
Around 12.30am, a large group of people left the apartment, leaving Aguilera and three other young women inside.
Phone records show Aguilera had a one-minute phone call with her out-of-town boyfriend, Aldo Sanchez, 20, from 12.43 to 12.44am.
Witnesses said she argued during the conversation, which was later confirmed by the boyfriend. The nature of the dispute has not been disclosed.
Just two minutes later, at 12.46am, police responded to a 911 call alerting them to a body on the sidewalk below. Aguilera was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.56am. Police said she had trauma ‘consistent with having fallen from a higher floor.’
Police said that everyone who was in the apartment on the night Aguilera died has cooperated and they have yielded no evidence suggesting foul play.
As well as the alleged suicide note, investigators found suicidal texts sent the evening of her death to friends, police claimed, along with what they described as indications of self-harm.
Buzbee played down the significance of the texts, decrying them as ‘absolute and total baloney’, saying the alleged suicide note was a deleted essay and not relevant.
Aguilera’s family have since revealed having filed a lawsuit against two Austin groups, claiming both organizations over-served Aguilera, who was underage, during the Texas vs. Texas A&M tailgates.
