Cause of death for teen found dead following football game confirmed as suicide after mom suspected foul play
The cause of death for a teenager found dead outside of an apartment complex in Austin, Texas, has been confirmed as suicide.
Brianna Aguilera, 19, was found in the early hours of November 29, after she had attended a tailgate for a football match between the University of Texas and Texas A&M University.
Brianna's mom, Stephanie Rodriguez, said she was told by authorities that her daughter had likely died by suicide, but she was adamant that Brianna was not suicidal, and was looking forward to becoming a lawyer after graduation.
However, the Travis County Medical Examiner has ruled Brianna’s death as a suicide.
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According to the autopsy report, Brianna died of ‘blunt force trauma’ after falling from the 17th-floor balcony of the 21 Rio apartment complex in the West Campus of the University of Texas at Austin in the early hours of the morning.
The report listed a large number of injuries from the fall that led to Brianna’s death. It also mentions prior suicide threats and a deleted note on her phone.
The toxicology report says alcohol and cannabis were found in her system.
In a statement issued by Austin police to FOX 7 following the release of the autopsy report, the authorities said: “Austin Police (APD) is aware that the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office has concluded its final autopsy report regarding the death of Brianna Aguilera and ruled it a suicide. The investigation remains open, and until it is closed, Austin Police will not be providing any additional information.”
The report from the medical examiner is based on information from the Austin Police Department, who said in a press conference on December 4 that Brianna had died by suicide.
“In every investigation, we have to rely on the evidence, and all evidence in this case is indicative of suicide,” Sgt. Nathan Sexton said at the time.
In the wake of her daughter’s death, Stephanie Rodriguez had been adamant that her daughter had not died by suicide.
"There are a lot of inconsistencies with the story," Stephanie told KSAT.
Brianna’s mom has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, and is now seeking $1 million in damages from the Austin Blacks Rugby Club and the University of Texas Latin Economics and Business Association.
“My thoughts haven't changed when it comes to, in regards to the cause of death, the manner of death, of course, they were going to rule it a suicide,” Stephanie told People, confirming she was not accepting of the medical examiner’s findings.
Greg Harris