The tragic death of 19-year-old Texas A&M University student Brianna Aguilera has spiraled into a heated controversy, with her family challenging the official narrative and uncovering witness accounts that raise chilling questions about what truly happened on that fateful night in late November 2025.

Brianna, a bright sophomore from Laredo studying at the Bush School of Government and Public Service, was in Austin attending a tailgate party ahead of the highly anticipated Texas A&M vs. University of Texas football rivalry game. Friends described her as upbeat initially, but she became heavily intoxicated after consuming alcohol at the event. Witnesses reported she was asked to leave due to her level of impairment, stumbling and even losing her phone in a nearby wooded area.

Later that evening, surveillance footage showed Brianna arriving at the 21 Rio Apartments, a high-rise student complex near the UT campus, around 11 p.m. She entered a 17th-floor unit where a group of friends had gathered. By 12:30 a.m., most of the partygoers left, leaving Brianna alone with three other young women. Just minutes later, around 12:46 a.m. on November 29, a bystander discovered her body on the ground below, having fallen 17 stories. She was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries consistent with a high-fall trauma.

Austin Police Department initially stated there were no signs of foul play and quickly leaned toward classifying the death as a suicide. Investigators pointed to digital evidence recovered from her phone, including a deleted note from earlier that week addressed to loved ones, and prior messages indicating struggles with mental health. They emphasized that all witnesses cooperated fully and no criminal activity was evident.

However, Brianna’s grieving family, led by her mother Stephanie Rodriguez, vehemently disputes this conclusion. They argue the investigation was rushed and incomplete, with key details overlooked. In early January 2026, high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee, representing the family, held a press conference revealing testimony from a neighbor living directly across the hall from the apartment.

The neighbor, Dannah Rodriguez, recounted hearing loud arguing and pacing around 12:30 a.m., followed by sudden, intense screaming from a female voice—the kind that erupts in surprise or distress. The noise abruptly stopped, yet faint conversation continued. Her parents, visiting that night, even speculated the commotion might be near the balcony due to its outdoor-like echo. Shockingly, Dannah claims Austin police never interviewed her despite her proximity and willingness to cooperate. The apartment’s resident reportedly vacated the unit shortly after the incident.

The family has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against two organizations involved in the tailgate, alleging they illegally served underage alcohol contributing to Brianna’s intoxication. Buzbee has criticized the police timeline and called for an independent probe, suggesting the screams and other inconsistencies point to a more complex scenario.

As the investigation remains open, Brianna’s loved ones continue seeking justice for the talented young woman with dreams of becoming a lawyer. Her story highlights the devastating impact of alcohol, mental health challenges, and the profound pain of unresolved loss in a close-knit community.