Texas A&M Student Found Dead After Attending Tailgate for Football Game; Family Demands Answers

Aside from speaking out about the tragedy, the beloved late student's family has created a GoFundMe campaign, and her school community has shared an Instagram post in remembrance.

She went to see a football game. She never came home. When Texas A&M University student Brianna Aguilera traveled to Austin on Friday, November 28, 2025, for a football game, neither she nor her family could have predicted the tragedy that would ensue.

The Laredo native died, prompting an investigation. Now, her bereaved mother, Stephanie Rodriguez, is sharing her concerns about the nature of her daughter's demise, as she searches for answers surrounding what really happened that fateful night.

A Tailgate Turns Deadly

The heartbreak intensified for Aguilera's family when details surrounding her final hours raised more questions than answers. According to reports, the 19-year-old had attended a tailgate party for the high-stakes Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies football game before she was found unresponsive.

Reportedly, her daughter was staying at a friend's apartment on the west side of the UT Campus — the same location where she was later found dead outside in the early hours of Saturday morning, November 29.

Rodriguez said she became concerned when her daughter stopped answering her phone after the game. In a phone interview with KSAT, she explained that Aguilera's mobile device was still pinging in Austin. She then noted, "Someone also put her phone on do not disturb, which my daughter never does unless she's in class or studying for an exam."

Despite her growing alarm, Rodriguez was told by Austin police that she had to wait 24 hours before filing a missing persons report.

Meanwhile, Aguilera's body had already been discovered by a good Samaritan around 1 a.m. near 2101 Rio Grande Street. What happened in the time leading up to that moment remains unclear — and what Rodriguez has been told so far has only deepened her suspicions.

"There are a lot of inconsistencies with the story," Rodriguez noted. Authorities informed her that Aguilera had become intoxicated at the tailgate, was later asked to leave, and ultimately returned to her friend's apartment, where she and several others were staying.

But by the time police recovered her phone, it was too late. Rodriguez wasn't informed that her daughter had died until nearly 4 p.m. on Saturday — long after her body had been taken to the morgue.

According to the Austin Police Department (APD), they had responded to a report of an unresponsive person at 2101 Rio Grande Street at 12:47 a.m. When they arrived, they located Aguilera and pronounced her dead at the scene at 12:57 a.m.

'She Was Not Suicidal': Bereaved Mother Sets the Record Straight

The official account suggests that Aguilera may have fallen from the 17th floor of the apartment complex. Investigators with the APD have reportedly told Rodriguez that they believe the death was either accidental or a suicide. But to the grieving mother, that explanation doesn't align with who her daughter was.

"My daughter was not suicidal. She loved life. She wanted to graduate. She wanted to become an attorney," Rodriguez told reporters. Describing her daughter as a vibrant, goal-driven young woman, she added, "She was so excited to be an Aggie. We were looking forward to ordering her ring next semester."

Police Say No Foul Play, but Mother Isn't Convinced

"He told me they said she jumped, and then he told me that the friends said they didn't know her whereabouts," Rodriquez shared of the details divulged to her by authorities.

Adding to her anguish, Rodriguez stated that she has reason to believe there was a confrontation before her daughter's death.

"There was a fight that happened between my daughter and another girl," she asserted. "They were all staying in the same apartment that I have actual text messages of, and the detective just disregarded them." Rodriguez believes someone among the 15 people present that night knows more than they're sharing.

Despite the grieving mother's concerns, the APD has maintained that there is currently no evidence of suspicious circumstances and that the case is not being investigated as a homicide.

A spokesperson confirmed that a victim's services counselor and a detective have been assigned, and that the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office will ultimately determine the cause of death — a process that could take several months due to pending autopsy and toxicology results.

Additionally, news outlet KSAT reached out to Texas A&M for comment, to which a spokesperson responded that the university "does not have a statement to share at this time."

While authorities continue their review, Rodriguez is left with a painful void and a growing list of unanswered questions. "It's been a very unexpected and tragic loss [...] It was devastation to the max. I was destroyed. I didn't want to believe it," she recalled about the moment she received the call from the police.

"Like any other parent, I was in disbelief. I yelled, I shouted. I told the officer it wasn't true. That he was lying to me," Rodriguez added. Recounting the harrowing incident, UT Austin student Morgan Jackson disclosed, "I saw so many flashing lights, and ambulances and police cars had blocked off the bike lane. It was a horrific accident and [sic] I feel terrible for her family."

GoFundMe Pleads for Support

Now, Rodriguez remembers her beloved daughter as someone who adored her family, her dog, and the popular TV show "Dancing With the Stars." "She thought she could be a singer, but she was not very good at singing," the grieving mom recalled with a small laugh.

As Rodriguez continues to search for clarity in the wake of her daughter's sudden death, the financial strain of such an unexpected tragedy has only added to the burden. In response, a loved one created a GoFundMe campaign to help ease the costs associated with funeral arrangements and other unforeseen expenses.

"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of our beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, and cousin, Brianna Aguilera," the campaign message begins — a heartfelt tribute to a young woman remembered for her vibrant spirit and academic excellence.

Aguilera, a United High School graduate in Laredo and former cheerleader who earned Magna Cum Laude honors, was pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer at The Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M.

According to her loved ones, she was just one year away from earning her coveted Aggie ring — a milestone she had eagerly anticipated. Though the details of what happened to Aguilera remain uncertain, the outpouring of support has been nothing short of extraordinary.

The fundraiser, originally set with a $12,000 goal, has since surpassed $30,000, reflecting the collective grief and generosity of those touched by her story.

"If you are unable to give, we humbly ask that you keep Brianna and her family in your thoughts and prayers," the post reads — a simple plea that underscores the depth of the family's loss and their need for continued community strength.

A School Community in Mourning

Aside from the fundraiser, Aguilera's school community has come forward to honor her memory and echo her family's call for support. In a heartfelt post shared on Instagram, Barstool Texas A&M paid tribute to the late student, describing her as a young woman whose legacy would be remembered for her "hard work and heart."

"In times of loss, the Aggie Spirit reminds us that no one faces hardship alone," the caption reads alongside a series of photos that capture Aguilera's joyful personality — from her beautiful smile in a Texas A&M shirt to her proud graduation moment draped in honors.

The post also encourages followers to contribute to the GoFundMe campaign created in her honor, linking the remembrance with action.

The message from the Texas A&M community stands as a poignant reminder of the collective strength found in shared sorrow — and the lasting impact Aguilera made in her short but inspiring life.

At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Rodriguez, Aguilera's entire family, her loved ones, friends, community, and all who knew and loved her, as they mourn such a significant loss. We hope for their healing amid their grief. RIP, dear Aguilera.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.