Mother of Texas A&M Student Who Died After Football Game Claims “This Wasn’t an Accident”

Mother of Texas A&M Student Who Died After Football Game Says “I Don’t Believe This Was an Accident”

Stephanie Rodriguez is speaking out after the tragic death of her daughter, Brianna Marie Aguilera, a 19-year-old Texas A&M student. Rodriguez tells PEOPLE that she believes the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death don’t add up and insists it wasn’t an accident.

Authorities in Austin, Texas, discovered Aguilera’s body early on Saturday, Nov. 29, outside a West Campus apartment shortly after the football game between the Aggies and the University of Texas ended.

In an updated statement shared with PEOPLE on Dec. 2, the Austin Police Department confirmed that Brianna’s death is under investigation but said the evidence collected so far does not suggest homicide:

“The case involving the death of Brianna Aguilera remains open, active, and under thorough investigation. Multiple detectives continue to interview witnesses, gather evidence, and work carefully through the details of the incident. At this stage, the facts obtained do not indicate that this is a homicide. The cause of death will be determined by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.”

The statement also expressed condolences to Aguilera’s family and emphasized the seriousness of the investigation.

Mother Questions Official Assessment

Despite the police statement, Aguilera’s mother disagrees with their assessment. She told PEOPLE:

“I’m thinking either someone shoved her over the balcony, or when my daughter drank, she might have fallen asleep—she’s so thin and frail, she cannot handle alcohol. Maybe they got scared and threw her over the balcony, or they shoved her off.”

According to Rodriguez, police suggested they believe her daughter’s death may have been suicidal or accidental, a claim that upset her deeply:

“My daughter wasn’t suicidal. She was living her best life. She loved life. She loved school. She wanted to become a lawyer. There was no way she would do this to herself.”

Circumstances of the Night

Rodriguez says Brianna was at a party on the 17th floor of 21 Rio, a 21-story apartment building, with about 14 other people. Rodriguez alleges that her daughter had a fight with another girl over her boyfriend, which could have escalated during the party.

The night before the tragedy, Rodriguez had tried to contact her daughter but was unable to reach her. She fears a confrontation may have contributed to what happened.

Remembering Brianna

Stephanie Rodriguez wants people to remember Brianna as a bright, loving, and ambitious young woman. The high school cheerleader and devoted sister had big dreams of becoming a criminal defense attorney and was particularly close to her two younger brothers

During the recent Thanksgiving break at home in Laredo, Brianna surprised her siblings with Starbucks and took them to see Wicked at the movie theater.

“She was always smart,” Rodriguez said. “She was eager to get back to school. She was happy … There was no way she would do this to herself.”

Authorities continue to investigate Brianna’s death, and the family is seeking answers as they grieve the loss of a beloved daughter, sister, and student.