Texas A&M StudentPics of Happy Night Out with BF …Weeks Before Her Suicide

Brianna Aguilera masked any struggles or dark thoughts she had in the months leading up to her death … as newly surfaced photos show her beaming widely with her boyfriend on Halloween.

The 19-year-old college student dressed up as Glinda from “Wicked” — complete with blonde wig, pink gown and massive tiara — while she posed next to a guy in a green jacket covered in a leafy gold pattern like Fiyero wears in “Wicked: For Good.”

Aguilera and the guy — who Daily Mail reports is 20-year-old Aldo Sanchez, Brianna’s boyfriend — are grinning ear-to-ear in the pics and clutching each other tightly.

Instagram / @brie.aguilera

The couple posed in a number of pics together over the past year … including one particularly eye-catching shot from August when Aldo plated a note at a fancy restaurant, asking Brianna to be his girlfriend.

As you know, authorities in Austin, TX have ruled Brianna’s death a suicide — revealing Thursday she jumped from the 17th floor of an apartment building hours after her school’s football game against the University of Texas.

Police say Brianna used a friend’s phone to call her boyfriend around 12:43 AM local time … and, a few minutes later, she jumped from the balcony to her death.

Facebook / Stephanie Rodriguez

Cops have not named the boyfriend she called, so we don’t know for a fact she was speaking to Aldo in the minutes leading up to her death.

Briana’s mother has contested the police’s version of events, claiming her daughter wasn’t suicidal. However, officers say they found a suicide note typed out on her phone several days before her death.

It’s been more than a week since Laredo native and Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera died in Austin mere hours after visiting the Texas capital city to attend a Texas A&M vs. Texas football tailgate. In the days since, the Austin Police Department has shared details it says points to suicide as Aguilera’s alleged cause of death, while her family denounces those claims, sharing concerns about possible foul play involved in her death.

Here’s everything we know about the case as of Monday, December 8.

What happened to Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera?

Aguilera visited Austin ahead of the Texas A&M vs. Texas football game on November 28, attending a tailgate party with friends on campus. Police said witnesses claimed she got drunk to the point that she was asked to leave the tailgate party late in the evening, returning with friends to the 21 Rio Apartments in Austin’s West Campus neighborhood around 11 p.m.

Brianna Aguilera, a Laredo native and Texas A&M University student, died in Austin on Saturday, November 29 following a Texas A&M versus University of Texas at Austin tailgate.

While at the Austin Rugby Club’s tailgate, police said Aguilera lost her phone and several of her belongings, which were discovered the following day. Once at the 21 Rio Apartments, Aguilera used a friend’s phone to call her boyfriend around 12:43 a.m. on November 29, phone records revealed, with Aguilera’s boyfriend confirming to police that conversation had turned into an argument.

Minutes later, police fielded a 9-1-1 call around 12:46 a.m. about a woman found unresponsive on the sidewalk below the 21 Rio Apartments. A GoFundMe established by Aguilera’s family later that weekend confirmed she was the woman who had died in Austin outside the student apartment complex.

On December 1, APD confirmed with MySA its officers had responded to the apartment complex, with Aguilera declared dead just before 1 a.m. on November 29. An APD spokesperson told MySA the death wasn’t being investigated as a homicide and said “there are no indications of suspicious circumstances.” The official cause and manner of Aguilera’s death would be determined by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office, officials noted.

Later that same day, MySA spoke with Aguilera’s mother, Stephanie Rodriguez, who pushed back on APD’s claims there were “no indication of suspicious circumstances” surrounding Aguilera’s death. She specifically noted that her daughter had not exhibited any signs of suicidal behavior.

“My daughter was full of life and loved life,” she said.

21 Rio Apartments in Austin, Texas.

Kelsey Thompson/MySA

Brianna Aguilera’s parents retain Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, San Antonio’s Gamez Law Firm

On December 3, prominent Houston attorney Tony Buzbee shared on social media the Buzbee Law Firm, alongside San Antonio-based Gamez Law Firm, had been tapped by Aguilera’s parents, Rodriguez and Manuel Aguilera, to represent them in their daughter’s ongoing death investigation.

“Brianna’s parents firmly believe there is much more information that needs to be discovered regarding their daughter’s death,” Buzbee wrote on social media at the time. “They feel certain this was not an accident. This was certainly not a suicide. This family deserves straight answers. We hope we can help them get those answers.”

What was the cause of death of Brianna Aguilera?

On December 4, APD held a press conference where it revealed an alleged cause of death for Aguilera, with an official cause and manner determination to come from the ME’s Office once their autopsy and additional toxicology reports had been completed. At that conference, APD Lead Homicide Detective Robert Marshall pointed to a possible cause of death as suicide.

That alleged cause of death came after investigators claimed to have found a deleted Notes app entry from November 25 that included a potential suicide letter addressed to loved ones, as well as digital messages and previous comments made to friends referencing suicide.

During a press conference with Aguilera’s family on December 5, Buzbee slammed APD’s press conference and announcement of an alleged cause of death, saying the agency doesn’t hold the authority to release that determination – only the ME’s Office can. He also discredited investigators’ work as “sloppy” and “absolute foolishness,” claiming APD’s handling of the case had been unethical, unprofessional and damaging to Aguilera’s loved ones.

Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee is representing the parents of Brianna Aguilera, a Texas A&M student who died in Austin on Saturday, November 29. Aguilera’s family disputes the presumed cause of death for Aguilera, after the Austin Police Department said evidence points to suicide.

Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

Buzbee also highlighted alleged discrepancies in APD’s investigation, claiming police gave conflicting answers on what the women in the apartment with Aguilera were doing at the time she died and not speaking with a witness who shared a TikTok detailing arguments and fighting her heard in the moments before Aguilera’s death.

“This family wants the truth. They’re entitled to the truth,” he said.

Buzbee called on APD to remove Marshall as lead detective on the case, saying he would write a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott to request the Texas Rangers take over the case if not. In a statement shared with MySA on Friday, APD officials said it stood behind its investigation, reiterating it remains open and ongoing.

“We understand emotions are extremely high and that Brianna’s passing has brought immense pain to her loved ones. We share in that sorrow,” officials said. “This is still an active and ongoing investigation. The misinformation that has been shared harms innocent people and jeopardizes the integrity of the investigative process. From the beginning, our priority has been and continues to be, to conduct a thorough, complete, and respectful investigation.”

Laredo community holds candlelight vigil for Brianna Aguilera

Community members from Aguilera’s hometown of Laredo gathered on December 7 to honor her memory with a candlelight vigil ceremony at North Central Park. Alongside residents, local and state officials, religious leaders, family and friends celebrated her memory and legacy, Laredo Morning Times reported.

“We are one people, we are all family, and whatever happens to one person in Laredo, we all feel it,” Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino said. “The most important thing is to be here to support the family, so they don’t suffer alone, and to share the weight of this pain together.”

GoFundMe for Brianna Aguilera remains open for continued family support

After establishing a GoFundMe following Aguilera’s death, her family confirmed the fundraiser would remain active to continually support her family in the weeks and months ahead. As of the morning of December 8, nearly $42,000 had been raised, surpassing its $12,000 goal.

Brianna Aguilera funeral, vigil details unveiled

Aguilera’s loved ones are set to hold a public viewing on December 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Hillside Funerals & Cremations in Laredo, alongside a vigil and rosary service at 7 p.m., according to Aguilera’s obituary. A mass will be held on December 9 at 8:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, ahead of a cremation service and a private burial to be held in the future.

“We invite all who knew and loved Brianna to gather in her memory as we honor the beautiful soul she was and will forever remain in our hearts,” Aguilera’s obituary read in part. “Brianna will always shine brightly, a reminder of the blessings life can bring, however fleeting. May her spirit live on in our memories and inspire us to cherish every day as she did.”