“She Loved Life,” Mother Says of Texas A&M Student Found Dead in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas – Austin police are investigating the death of a 19-year-old Texas A&M University student found unresponsive early Saturday at an apartment in the West Campus area.
Officers responded to a call at 2101 Rio Grande Street at 12:47 a.m. and discovered the woman, later identified as Brianna Aguilera, not breathing. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:57 a.m.
Police stated the incident is not currently being investigated as a homicide and there are no initial indications of foul play. The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death. The inquiry is ongoing.
According to her mother, stephanie Rodriguez, police informed her that Brianna had attended a tailgate party prior to the Texas A&M versus University of Texas football game and had become intoxicated. Rodriguez said police indicated her daughter was subsequently asked to leave the party and returned to an apartment where she was staying with friends. Hours passed before Rodriguez heard from her daughter.
“It’s been a very unexpected and tragic loss,” Rodriguez said.she also noted that Brianna’s phone had been placed on “do not disturb,” something her daughter rarely did outside of class or study time.
Police have suggested to Rodriguez that the death may have been either a suicide or an accident. “My daughter was not suicidal. She loved life. She wanted to graduate. She wanted to become an attorney,” Rodriguez stated.
Witnesses in the area reported a significant police presence. Morgan Jackson, a UT Austin student, said, “I saw so many flashing lights, and ambulances and police cars had blocked off the bike lane. It was a horrific accident and I feel terrible for her family.”
Rodriguez described her daughter as a driven and enthusiastic student. “She was so excited to be an Aggie.We were looking forward to ordering her ring next semester,” she said, adding that Brianna was enrolled in five classes and had already registered for six in the upcoming semester.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Rodriguez shared that brianna cherished her family, her dog, and enjoyed watching ”Dancing With the Stars.” She even playfully recalled her daughter’s aspirations to be a singer, despite lacking natural talent.
Rodriguez recounted her initial reaction to the news of her daughter’s death. “Like any other parent, I was in disbelief. I yelled, I shouted, I told the officer it wasn’t true. That he was lying to me,” she said. ”It was devastation to the max. I was destroyed. I didn’t want to believe it.”
The University of Texas at Austin confirmed that the Austin Police department is leading the investigation but stated it has no further details regarding the case.
A GoFundMe campaign established in Brianna Aguilera’s memory has raised over $24,000.
