The family of Brianna Aguilera, the 19-year-old Texas A&M student who fell to her death last weekend, has retained high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee, formally challenging the Austin Police Department’s (APD) conclusion that her death was a suicide.
Aguilera was found dead early Saturday, Nov. 29, outside the 21 Rio Apartments in the West Campus area after attending the Texas A&M vs. University of Texas football game. While APD quickly closed the case as a suicide, her family argues the investigation was “sloppy” and “unprofessional,” citing unexplained circumstances they believe point to foul play.
The Family’s Counter-Investigation: Buzbee’s Plan
Tony Buzbee, known for handling high-stakes legal battles, held a press conference Friday alongside Aguilera’s parents, Stephanie Rodriguez and Manuel Aguilera. Buzbee blasted the APD for rushing to judgment “within hours” and failing to process critical evidence before closing the file.
Buzbee’s strategic plan involves:
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Demanding a New Investigator: He is calling for APD to reopen the case and assign a new lead investigator, arguing the current handling has been incompetent.
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The Texas Rangers Option: If APD refuses to reassign the case, Buzbee plans to bypass local authorities. He stated he will submit a “detailed packet” of evidence and witness statements directly to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, formally requesting the Texas Rangers intervene and take over the investigation.
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Independent Forensics: The family is pushing for the completion of a full autopsy, toxicology report, and the processing of a rape kit—procedures Buzbee claims were either not finished or mishandled when the suicide ruling was made.
Alternate Theories: Foul Play vs. Accident
While police maintain there is no evidence of a crime, the family and their legal team have floated alternative theories based on what they call “suspicious” gaps in the official timeline.
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The “Nefarious” Theory (Homicide/Altercation): Buzbee suggests Aguilera may have been the victim of foul play. He cited witness accounts from a TikTok user and a neighbor who reportedly heard “fighting,” “screaming,” and someone yelling “get off of me” between 12:30 a.m. and 1:00 a.m.—the timeframe of her death. He also noted an altercation Aguilera allegedly had with another woman at a tailgate earlier that day, claiming that woman was present in the apartment that night.
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The “Accidental” Theory: Early in the investigation, police considered an accidental fall, potentially linked to intoxication. However, Aguilera’s mother insists this is impossible, stating her daughter had a severe fear of heights and would never have gone near the balcony edge willingly.
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The “Missing Evidence” Theory: Buzbee highlighted several unanswered questions that suggest a cover-up or negligence, such as why Aguilera’s wallet is missing, why the apartment’s lessee vacated the unit the very next day, and why her friends waited until 12:14 p.m. the following afternoon to call the police.
The Official Conclusion: Why APD Ruled Suicide
Despite the family’s claims, the Austin Police Department has released details of what they consider “strong evidence” supporting their suicide ruling. Detective Robert Marshall stated that “at no time did any evidence point to this being anything of a criminal nature.”
APD’s evidence includes:
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A Deleted Note: Police recovered a deleted digital note from Aguilera’s phone, written on Nov. 25 (four days prior to her death). Investigators described it as a suicide note addressed to specific people in her life. (Buzbee dismisses this as a “creative writing essay”).
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Documented Ideation: Detectives report that witnesses confirmed Aguilera had made suicidal comments starting in October and continuing through the night of her death.
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The Final Timeline: Police say Aguilera was on the phone with her boyfriend just two minutes before the fall, and the call involved an argument. They also noted “self-harming actions” occurred earlier that evening.
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Video Surveillance: Security footage reportedly shows a large gathering at the apartment earlier, but most people left, leaving Aguilera with three other women. Police state there is no video evidence suggesting anyone forced her off the balcony.
For now, the case remains officially closed by APD, but the legal pressure from the Aguilera family ensures the scrutiny of that night is far from over.
Flip the pages for photos of Brianna Aguilera before her death.
