The family of Brianna Aguilera is raising serious concerns about the Austin Police Department’s handling of the investigation into her death.
According to earlier reports from CrimeOnline, authorities in Austin concluded that the 19-year-old Texas A&M student died by suicide after falling from the 21 Rio apartment complex, located at 2101 Rio Grande Street near the University of Texas.
However, Aguilera’s family disputes this conclusion, arguing that investigators rushed to label the incident without conducting a thorough investigation.
Attorney Tony Buzbee, representing Aguilera’s parents, expressed his criticism in a statement to FOX 7 Austin, saying, “There is incompetence and laziness on the part of the detective, that’s what I’m suggesting.”
In the aftermath of Brianna’s death, the Austin Police Department outlined a timeline of events, concluding that she had taken her own life. Their findings were based on a deleted digital suicide note and messages to friends indicating thoughts of self-harm.
Buzbee, however, said that only a medical examiner can determine the cause of death. He added that police told Aguilera’s mother that she took her own life within hours of finding her body.
“We were asked by these parents who loved their daughter to find the truth of what happened to her,” Buzbee said. “Good investigations lead to conclusions. Bad investigations start with a conclusion.”
“We know how tall Brianna was. She was 5’2. The railing’s 44 inches. You don’t fall over it. There’s no, there’s no furniture on in the balcony. There’s nothing to climb up on to jump off.”
Buzbee is now asking for APD’s lead detective, Robert Marshall, to be removed from the case. If not, he plans to write a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, with a request for the Texas Rangers to take over the case.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo via Instagram]
