How to watch the Tony Buzbee news conference on Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera’s death

New timeline released in the death of Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera

APD released a detailed timeline, surveillance findings, and new digital evidence as investigators addressed speculation surrounding the death of Brianna Aguilera.

HOUSTON — Austin police released new information Thursday morning as questions and public concern continue to grow surrounding the death of 19-year-old Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera.

Included in the new information was a digital suicide note that APD said they found on the A&M student’s cell phone.

Her family insists “much more information” remains to be uncovered, while investigators urge patience as they work through an extensive evidence review.

APD Chief Lisa Davis began the update by offering condolences to Aguilera’s family and saying she spoke not only as a chief but “first and foremost as a mother.”

“It is not common for a police department to speak publicly about a death investigation,” Davis said. “But inaccurate information has circulated and been reported, causing additional harm to innocent people, including bullying directed at them and their families.”

She added that suggestions that APD “failed to do our jobs” are not accurate, and said careful investigations take time due to the amount of physical, digital, and witness evidence involved.

APD Homicide Detective Robert Marshall then walked through a detailed timeline of the investigation so far.

Timeline of events leading up to Aguilera’s death

Officers responded at 12:46 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, to a call about a deceased person at 2101 Rio Grande Street. Aguilera was found on the ground with trauma consistent with a fall from a height and was pronounced dead at 12:56 a.m. Investigators said a witness heard a “thud” moments before finding her.

By 10 a.m., detectives accessed the apartment complex’s surveillance system. The video showed Aguilera arriving just after 11 p.m. on Nov. 28 and entering a 17th-floor apartment where friends had gathered that night. A large group left the unit at 12:30 a.m., leaving Aguilera and three other girls inside.

Marshall said Aguilera had been tailgating at the Austin Rugby Club earlier in the day, where witnesses reported she became intoxicated to the point she was asked to leave. They said she repeatedly dropped her belongings and at one point staggered into a wooded area — the same area where officers later found her phone and other items.

Investigators confirmed Aguilera had lost her phone at the tailgate. After returning to the apartment, she borrowed a friend’s phone around 12:43–12:44 a.m. to call an out-of-town boyfriend. Witnesses said they heard an argument, which phone and text records later confirmed. The call lasted about one minute, roughly two minutes before the 911 call that reported her body.

Later that afternoon, at about 12:54 p.m., officers made contact with residents of the apartment who were attempting to report Aguilera missing. They had already called 911 at 12:14 p.m., saying she had not returned.

Aguilera’s mother also reported her missing around 12:50 p.m., later calling police at 2 p.m. after learning Aguilera’s phone had been found in a wooded area.

Around 3:30 p.m., officers located additional belongings in a field near Walnut Creek.

Watch the full press conference below. Warning: There were issues with the audio quality.

Digital evidence and recovered records

Marshall said Aguilera’s parents met with Victim Services and detectives on Monday, Dec. 1. During that meeting, Aguilera’s mother turned over her daughter’s phone.

A forensic search uncovered a deleted digital suicide note dated Nov. 23, addressed to specific people. Marshall said detectives also learned Aguilera made suicidal comments to friends in October, and that texts and statements from the night of her death indicated emotional distress.

Her phone remains in the custody of APD’s digital forensics unit.

APD: No evidence of foul play

Marshall emphasized that:

There is no evidence of a physical altercation the night Aguilera died.
All individuals connected to the case, including everyone in the apartment, have been fully cooperative, with many participating in multiple interviews.
The apartment complex provided around-the-clock access and full camera footage.
Surveillance, witness statements, and digital evidence point to no indication of foul play at any point.

“We recognize the deep pain that accompanies the unexpected passing of a loved one,” Marshall said. “But based on all witness statements, video footage, and digital evidence collected, we have not found any indication of foul play.”

Aguilera was wearing the same clothes she wore to the tailgate and had no identification on her, which investigators said contributed to the initial delay in confirming her identity.

Chief Davis addresses public pressure and online speculation

Davis said the department chose to speak publicly because of the intensity of speculation around the case.

“I understand how grief and the need for answers can raise intense emotions and questions,” she said. “But sometimes the truth does not provide the answers we are hoping for.”

She reiterated that detectives have worked “around the clock” and used every available resource.

New statement from Buzbee Law Firm following APD press conference

Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents Aguilera’s parents, said Wednesday they believe the case requires deeper examination.

“Brianna’s parents firmly believe there is much more information that needs to be discovered regarding their daughter’s death. They feel certain this was not an accident. This was certainly not a suicide,” Buzbee said.

Shortly after Austin police released new details in the investigation on Thursday, the Buzbee Law Firm posted a statement announcing it will hold its own press conference on Friday at 1 p.m. at the firm’s Houston office in the JPMorgan Chase Tower downtown. Brianna Aguilera’s parents are expected to attend and may make statements.

According to the announcement, attorney Tony Buzbee plans to “release pertinent details and open questions” regarding the case and will offer comments from the legal team and the family in response to what he described as the Austin Police Department’s handling of the investigation.

“The circumstances surrounding her death are very suspicious,” Buzbee said in the statement. “The Austin Police Department’s handling of this matter creates more questions than it provides answers. As far as we are concerned, this is an open investigation and will continue to be open until these parents are satisfied they know what happened to their daughter.”

How Texas A&M students are reacting

On the Texas A&M campus in College Station, news of Aguilera’s death has spread. Several students told KHOU 11 that they were heartbroken to hear about what happened.

KHOU 11 spoke to student Abby Cantwell, who said she shared a class with Aguilera. She described it as a class within the government school.

“I was definitely devastated,” Cantwell said. “It’s just devastating, and honestly nobody deserves that, and she had just a life ahead of her.”

Cantwell also said she participated in a memorial Thursday in honor of Aguilera.

“We just had a little candle lighting in there, just tiny little candles that we all turned on and had a little light up ceremony for her,” Cantwell said.

When asked about her thoughts on the case and the questions raised about Aguilera’s death, Cantwell said she did not believe foul play was involved.

“I don’t think so, honestly, since they didn’t see it just right off the bat, I think that would be something very evident, like bruising or something like that,” Cantwell said.

However, other students said they are not entirely convinced Aguilera took her own life.

“I think it’s suspicious. I do think it’s suspicious, and I would not be surprised if there was foul play,” Texas A&M student Louis Gamboa said.