Regina Santos-Aviles Wikipedia, Age, Husband, Political Party

Regina Santos-Aviles Biography – Regina Santos-Aviles Wiki

Regina Santos-Aviles, born Regina Ann “Regi” Aviles, was a congressional staffer for U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican representing Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, the state’s largest, which stretches across the southwestern border and into San Antonio. According to her LinkedIn profile, she began her position as a regional director for the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2021.

Santos-Aviles was involved in an alleged affair with Gonzales. Her husband, Adrian Aviles, shared text messages with The Texas Tribune as evidence of the affair between the congressman and his staffer. Aviles told the San Antonio Express-News, which published the text messages first, that the relationship and the professional ostracization his wife faced after it was discovered led her to become despondent before her death.

The text messages indicate Gonzales pushed a sexual relationship with Santos-Aviles despite House rules, passed in 2018, prohibiting relationships between lawmakers and their staff. The messages show the congressman repeatedly pushing the conversation in a sexual direction, even as Santos-Aviles tried to deter him. After requesting an explicit photo, which she declined to provide, he asked her “favorite position.” She asked for his first, and he said, “on top pinning your legs.”

“This is going too far boss,” she replied. He continued to push, but eventually, the conversation turned to setting up an in-person liaison. Two days later, the pair were alone for several hours at a cabin owned by a former staffer’s family, the staffer told the Express-News.

Just a few weeks later, Aviles discovered the affair between his wife and her boss. He used her phone to send a group text to Gonzales and seven members of his staff, identifying himself as Santos-Aviles’ “soon to be ex husband” and announcing the affair. Aviles and his wife separated after the affair came to light.

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.”