The mysterious death of Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera has been ruled a suicide, police said, noting a suicide note found on her phone and reported earlier comments about hurting herself.
The investigation began at 12:46 a.m. Saturday when officers responded to an Austin apartment complex and found Aguilera on the ground with trauma from an apparent fall from a high-rise, Austin Police Detective Robert Marshall said.
Cameras showed Aguilera arriving at the apartment complex shortly after 11 pm Friday and going to an apartment on the 17th.th land, Marshall said at a news conference on Thursday. The video showed “a large group of friends left that same apartment at 12:30 am on November 29, leaving only Brianna and three other girls in the apartment,” he said.
– PHOTO: Brianna Aguilera is pictured in this undated file photo.
Earlier on Friday, Aguilera was at a tailgate for the Texas A&M vs. University of Texas football game, and she “became intoxicated to the point where she was asked to leave,” Marshall said.
Aguilera told her friends she lost her phone, and when they arrived at the apartment Friday night, she borrowed a phone to call her boyfriend, he said.
Witnesses heard her arguing on the phone with her boyfriend, Marshall said. That call was made from 12:43 am to 12:44 am — two minutes before a 911 call, he said.
College student Brianna Aguilera dies mysteriously after Texas football tailgate, family says
When police later found Aguilera’s lost phone, they recovered “a deleted digital suicide note dated Tuesday, November 25 of this year, which was written to specific people in her life,” Marshall said.
“Brianna had made suicidal comments before to friends, back in October of this year,” he said. “This continued during the evening of her death, with some self-harming actions early in the evening and a message to another friend indicating suicidal thoughts.”
No evidence in the investigation ever pointed to a crime, Marshall stressed, adding, “Every friend and witness throughout this investigation has been nothing but forthcoming and open.”
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Aguilera’s family told local media earlier this week that the beloved college student was not suicidal and was planning to pursue a career in law.
After Thursday’s Police news conference, the family’s lawyer Tony Buzbee claimed that “the circumstances of her death are very suspicious.”
“The Austin Police Department’s handling of this matter raises more questions than it provides answers,” Buzbee said in a statement. “As far as we are concerned, this is an open investigation and it will remain open until these parents are satisfied that they know what happened to their son.”
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said at the news conference, “I understand how grief and the need for answers can raise intense emotions and many questions. But sometimes the truth doesn’t provide the answers we’re hoping for, and this is the case.”
Davis said her “heartache” is for Aguilera’s parents.
“I have three daughters and a son, and I can’t begin to imagine the pain,” Davis said.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts — free confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text the national helpline on 988.