AUSTIN (KXAN) — At a Friday news conference held by Brianna Aguilera’s family and Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee, Buzbee was critical of the Austin Police Department’s investigation into Aguilera’s death and said they were ready to ask the Texas Rangers to step in.
He called on Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis to remove Lead Homicide Detective Robert Marshall from investigating the 19-year-old’s death and assign it to another detective.
“That’s because the way that the Austin Police Department has handled this and jumped to conclusions within hours of this tragedy disqualifies the Austin Police Department from further investigating this matter. So I’m doing this today, I’m calling on the Austin Police Department to reopen the investigation with a different investigator,” Buzbee said.RELATED COVERAGE: Austin Police: Texas A&M student’s death ruled suicide
Aguilera, a Texas A&M student, was found unresponsive outside the 21 Rio apartments in West Campus early Saturday morning. She was pronounced dead at around 12:56 a.m., according to APD.
KXAN reached out to Austin Police regarding Buzbee’s claims about the handling of the investigation. The lawyer and family said APD failed to properly notify Aguilera’s family about Thursday’s police press conference, saying only two emails were sent, but no calls or texts.
They also claimed APD superseded the medical examiner’s authority by determining it was a suicide.
Austin Police responded in a statement Friday, saying it stands by the details it released Thursday.
“The Travis County Medical Examiner determines the cause and manner of death, and APD has never made a determination in this case. Our role is to conduct an investigation and follow the evidence. This investigation remains open, and at no point has APD stated otherwise,” APD said, in part, in a statement.
APD added it understands “emotions are extremely high” and that Aguilera’s death has brought “immense pain” to her loved ones.
“The misinformation that has been shared harms innocent people and jeopardizes the integrity of the investigative process. From the beginning, our priority has been and continues to be, to conduct a thorough, complete, and respectful investigation,” APD concluded in its response.
KXAN also contacted the Texas Rangers to ask whether it will conduct an investigation into Aguilera’s death. The Texas Department of Public Safety said at this time, the Texas Rangers have not received a request related to this case.
Aguilera’s mother, Stephanie Rodriguez, was present at the conference and said Aguilera was not suicidal.
“She was not suicidal,” Rodriguez said, “But I cannot deal with you doing a news conference and saying false things about my child without a thorough investigation.”
At the Thursday news conference, APD said there was no proof of foul play and the evidence pointed to suicide.
Detective Marshall said on Thursday, “Aguilera was found on the ground with injuries consistent with a fall from a higher floor.”
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