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Regina Santos-Aviles Biography – Regina Santos-Aviles Wiki
Regina Santos-Aviles, originally known as Regina Ann “Regi” Aviles, served as a congressional staffer for U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales. Gonzales is a Republican who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, encompassing the expansive southwestern border region and extending into San Antonio. According to Santos-Aviles’ LinkedIn profile, she commenced her role as a regional director for the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2021.
Allegations arose regarding an affair between Santos-Aviles and Representative Gonzales. Her husband, Adrian Aviles, provided text messages to The Texas Tribune that purportedly illustrate the relationship between the congressman and his staffer. Adrian Aviles told the San Antonio Express-News that his wife faced both personal turmoil and professional ostracization after the affair was discovered, contributing to her emotional distress before her untimely death.
The text messages shared by Adrian Aviles suggest that Gonzales pursued a sexual relationship with Santos-Aviles, despite a 2018 House rule that prohibits such relationships between lawmakers and their staff. The messages reveal Gonzales persistently steering conversations toward sexual topics, even as Santos-Aviles attempted to redirect them. When he requested an explicit photo—which she refused—he asked about her “favorite position.” She responded by asking his preference first, to which he replied, “on top pinning your legs.”
Santos-Aviles expressed discomfort, replying, “This is going too far boss.” Although she resisted, Gonzales continued pushing until the discussion shifted to arranging an in-person meeting. According to a report from the Express-News, they spent several hours alone at a cabin owned by a former staffer’s family, just two days after these exchanges.
A few weeks later, Adrian Aviles uncovered the affair between his wife and Gonzales. He used Santos-Aviles’ phone to send a group message to Gonzales and seven of his staff members, introducing himself as Santos-Aviles’ “soon to be ex-husband” and revealing the affair. This disclosure led to the separation of Aviles and his wife.
Regina Santos-Aviles Age
Regina Ann Santos-Aviles was born on June 12, 1990, in Uvalde, Texas. She passed away on September 14, 2025. She was 35.
Regina Santos-Aviles Husband
Regina Santos-Aviles was married to Adrian Aviles. She and her husband separated after Aviles discovered the affair between his wife and her boss. The couple had been estranged for several months, before she set herself on fire. Santos-Aviles told responding officers that she set herself on fire because her husband was romantically involved with her best friend.
Regina Santos-Aviles Children
Former congressional staffer Regina Santos-Aviles and her husband, Adrian Aviles, shared a son, Axel.
Regina Santos-Aviles Family
Santos-Aviles is survived by her husband, Adrian; her son, Axel; her mother, Nora Gonzales; her stepfather, Jaime Gonzales; her brother, Johnnie Santos; and her nieces, Isis and Amaya. She is also survived by her mother-in-law, Delia Aviles; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Andrew and Becca Aviles; and their children, Ashlynn, Alexander, Azriel, Alyson, and Amaris. She was preceded in death by her father, Johnnie Santos Jr.
Death
Congressional staffer Regina Santos-Aviles died by suicide after setting herself on fire in the backyard of her Uvalde, Texas, home on Sept. 13, 2025. She doused herself in gasoline and sent a video of the act to her friend, asking him to tell Aviles to “have fun raising our son.” Soon after, Santos-Aviles called 911. According to a police officer who listened to the recording, she could be heard yelling, “Please send help, it burns so bad,” and “My God, I don’t want to die.” She was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center, where she died the next day.
“We are all heart-stricken by the recent news. Regina devoted her profession toward making a difference in her community,” Rep. Tony Gonzales said in a statement according to Texas Public Radio. “She will always be remembered for her passion towards Uvalde and helping the community become a better place.”